EVALUATION OF POLYQUATERNIUM-1 EFFECTS ON HUMAN
CORNEAL EPITHELIAL CELLS
RUI WANG1, YUJIA ZHAO2, YANG JIAO3, XIAOHUA LI1*
1Department of Ophthalmology, Hong Qi Hospital of Mu Dan Jiang Medical University, Mu Dan Jiang City, 157011, China
2College of Pharmacy, Mu Dan Jiang Medical University, Mu Dan Jiang City, 157011, China
3Department of Neurology 1, Hong Qi Hospital of Mu Dan Jiang Medical University, Mu Dan Jiang City, 157011, China
*corresponding author: dr_lixiaohua@163.com
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Abstract:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of polyquaternium-1 and its toxicity on human corneal
epithelial cells. The antibacterial activity of polyquaternium-1 (PQ-1) samples was measured by nutrient broth dilution
method, and the influence of external factors on the stability of PQ-1 was investigated. The cytotoxicity of polyquaternium-1
was evaluated using an in vitro cell model of human corneal epithelium HCEpiC. The PQ-1 samples had a good antibacterial
activity, which was not affected by UV irradiation and pH. The antibacterial activity decreased with the increase of
temperature and NaCl. In addition, the PQ-1 high concentration had certain toxic effects on HCEpiC, but the cytotoxicity of
PQ-1 was low compared with other tested antibacterial agents. Polyquaternium-1 is a good choice as an ophthalmic
bacteriostatic agent, being non-irritant and having strong antibacterial activity, low toxicity, and low cytotoxicity on human
corneal epithelial cells.

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