Development and Characterization of Collagen – Carboxymethylcellulose Materials for Lenses

Cataract is one of the most common causes of blindness for people over 40 years old. Hydrogels are three – dimensional structures with increased properties which can be successful used in medical application such prosthesis or intraocular soft contact lenses. Sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC - Na) is the cheaper option currently available on the market with properties like biocompatibility similar with pHEMA. The aim of this study was to develop polymeric crystalline materials based on collagen (COL) and carboxymethylcellulose cross-linked with EDC/NHS for cataracts or other eye-disease. Type I fibrillar collagen gel with various ratios of CMC-Na hydrogels were lyophilized and tests tested by optic and scanning electronic microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy and water absorption. The obtained gels were crosslinked with EDC/NHS and lyophilized in order to obtain spongious forms. They are porous structures with pore sizes between 25-81 µm. The samples with CMCNa presented more uniform and dense matrices and the crosslinked ones are more resistant, being more proper as material for lenses for be used in cataract.