Surface modification of vitreoretinal surgical instruments with layer-by-layer films

Commercially available vitreoretinal surgical forceps were modified with layer-by-layer (LbL) films designed to render them the ability to specifically adhere human the inner limiting membrane. Surgical forceps with two different geometries were etched, polished, and silanized before deposition of the films composed of poly (allylamine hydrochloride), poly (styrene sulfonate), and cationic gold nanoparticles. Stability and integrity of the LbL films was scrutinized by exposing the modified forceps to commercial disinfectant Cidex-OPA and then placing the instruments in a physiological-like HEPES buffer (pH 7.4, 5 mM, 154 mM NaCl). Surface topography analysis with scanning electron microscopy revealed that the geometry of the surgical instrument may affect the integrity of the film. Analysis of the HEPES buffer with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry demonstrated that gold nanoparticles did not leach from the LbL film after 60 min. SCANNING 33:397–401, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.