Drug-free contact lens based on quaternized chitosan and tannic acid for bacterial keratitis therapy and corneal repair

Bacterial keratitis (BK) and related inflammatory diseases causes irreversible damage to the corneal tissue. In this study, a novel polyacrylamide semi-interpenetrating network hydrogel including quaternized chitosan and tannic acid (PAM-QCS-TA) were used to construct a novel antibacterial and antioxidant contact lens. The obtained hydrogels showed high water content (>85%), swelling resistance, light transmittance (>90%) and adjustable mechanical property. Both quantitative and qualitative antibacterial experiments against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (E. coli) indicated excellent sterilization function especially against E. coli (almost 100%). Due to the presence of tannin acid, it showed obvious antioxidant properties, which relieved oxidative stress and protect cells from reactive oxygen species-induced cytotoxicity. Animal experiments also indicated the shortened treatment time of BK (only 3 days) as well as the protection of eye tissue structure. Therefore, such drug-free antibacterial and antioxidant contact lens avoiding the development of drug resistance is a potential candidate in ocular infectious and inflammatory diseases treatment.