title: Experimental scleral buckling with a soft xerogel implant. I. Properties of poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) compared with gelatin and other swelling implants.
abstract: Scleral buckling can be obtained with insoluble hydrophilic polymers that are implanted in the dry state (xerogels, which then expand to a predetermined size by imbibing tissue fluids. Absorbable gelatin, nonabsorbable poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), and poly(glyceryl methacrylate) (PGMA), have been implanted as xerogels in scleral buckling procedures. Gelatin, PHEMA, and PGMA are soft when hydrated, but are hard and brittle in the dehydrated state. However, poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) is soft not only in the dehydrated state. However, poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) is soft only when hydrated but also when dehydrated. Dry PHEA can be carved easily to shape and size, and because it is soft it could be very useful for operations on thin, weakened sclera. We have implanted PHEA intrasclerally and suprasclerally in rabbit eyes. Tolerance of PHEA appears to be as good as that of other materials in clinical use. We have impregnated PHEA and gelatin implants with antibiotics to achieve prolonged antibiotic delivery to the surgical site. When dried impregnated gels were assayed for antibiotic activity in agar plates with Sarcina lutea, both gels displayed high but rapidly decreasing activity.
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005780:Gelatin; D005989:Glycerides; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D011817:Rabbits; D012505:Sarcina / Q000187:drug effects; D012591:Scleral Buckling
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005989:Glycerides; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; D011102:Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate; D005780:Gelatin