BACKGROUND: Artificial cornea titanium scaffold has a higher complication rate in clinical usage; therefore, to seek a kind of artificial corneal scaffold with high biocompatibility is a hot spot.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the biocompatibility of the artificial cornea titanium scaffold with hydroxyapatite surface modification.

METHODS: Twenty-seven New Zealand white rabbits were enrolled to make alkali burn models of the right cornea and then randomized into three groups: in experimental group, artificial cornea titanium scaffold with hydroxyapatite surface modification was implanted into the right eye; in control group, artificial cornea titanium scaffold was implanted into the right eye; in blank group, no scaffold was implanted into the right eye. At 2, 4, 16 weeks after implantation, the right corneas were taken out for pathological observation and scanning electron microscope observation.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 16 weeks after implantation, there was no difference in the number of inflammatory cells and fibroblasts among the three groups. Over time, in the experimental group, the corneal tissues, fibrous tissues and adhered extracellular matrices were increased gradually. In addition, the experimental group had more adherent corneal tissues, extracellular matrices and better tissue healing than the control and blank groups. These findings indicate that the artificial cornea titanium scaffold with hydroxyapatite surface modification had good biocompatibility that can effectively promote proliferation of corneal cells and corneal vascularization.