Comparative experiments for in vivo fibroplasia and biological stability of four porous polymers intended for use in the Seoul-type keratoprosthesis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate in vivo fibroplasia and biological stability of porous polymers intended for use in the Seoul-type keratoprosthesis (S-KPro).


METHODS
Four porous polymers (polypropylene, two kinds of polyethylene terephthalate (PE70 and PE50), and polyurethane) were investigated. Discs of polymers were inserted into the corneal stroma of rabbits for a 2 and 5 month period. Corneal oedema and neovascularisation were evaluated. The fibroplasia and collagen deposition were examined under light and transmission electron microscopy. S-KPros, whose skirt was made of four types of polymer, were implanted into the rabbits' eyes. The retention time and complications were evaluated.


RESULTS
Neovascularisation and corneal oedema were found in all of the disc inserted eyes, but the corneal oedema subsided within 2 months in most of the eyes. The mean number of fibroblasts increased significantly in polypropylene and PE50 disc inserted eyes compared with polyurethane disc inserted eyes. Plentiful collagen deposition was also found in both polypropylene and PE50 disc inserted eyes. Mean retention time in the polypropylene SK-Pro implanted eyes was longer than that of the other eyes (20.7 weeks). The PE70 skirt induced corneal melting around the prosthesis.


CONCLUSIONS
Polypropylene encourages fibroblast ingrowth and shows good biological stability when used as a skirt material in S-KPro.
Kim
M K
MK
Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul Municipal Boramae Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Lee
J L
JL
Wee
W R
WR
Lee
J H
JH
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002452:Cell Count; D003094:Collagen; D015715:Corneal Edema / Q000209:etiology; D016510:Corneal Neovascularization / Q000209:etiology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011108:Polymers; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011817:Rabbits; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D003094:Collagen