Scheme 1. Construction of ALG-GS/PEI multilayer films onto CL and reversible loading and release of GS for smart corneal bacterial infections treatment.

Fig. 1. (A) Thickness measurements by spectroscopic ellipsometry; (B) light transmission measured through UV-vis spectrometer; (C) water contact angle of (ALG-GS/PEI)10 multilayer film; (D) light transmission of multilayer films coated CL.

Fig. 2. (A) Drug loading capacity into the ALG-GS/PEI multilayer films; (B) GS release from difference medium; (C) reversible drug loading in pH 7.4 PBS GS solution and release in pH 5.5 MES; (D) cell viability assays of human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) cultured for 24 h; (E) growth and morphology of HCECs stained with FDA after 24 h (Scale bar: 20 μm).

Fig. 3. (A) Fluorescence microscopy images of the bacteria adhered on the CL after 24 h incubation; (B) ZOIs of pristine or multilayer film modified CL.

Fig. 4. Adhesion of (A) P. aeruginosa, (B) E. coli and (C) S. aureus, onto pristine or multilayer film modified CL after 24 h incubation and stained with methylene blue; (D) bactericidal function observation through spectrophotometric method after incubation for 24 h. (*p < 0.05,**p < 0.01,***p < 0.001).

Fig. 5. (A) Agar plate counting of the bacteria concentration in ocular surface secretion before and after CL wear at day 0 and day 5; (B) bacteria count and statistics of the bacteria number in ocular surface secretion after treatment for 5 days; (C) clinical score of the treated Sprague Dawley (SD) rats eyes after being treated; (D) images of H&E stained sections of cornea tissues of after being treated; (E) photographs of cornea and anterior chamber observed at day 0, 1, 3 and 5 through slit lamp (***p < 0.001).