Efficacy and safety of biodegradable collagen-glycosaminoglycan polymer as a material for scleral buckling.
OBJECTIVE
To test the efficacy and safety of a biodegradable collagen-glycosaminoglycan (CG) polymer as the material for scleral buckling in rabbit eyes.


METHODS
Segmental scleral buckling was performed by using a silicone sponge in one eye and a biodegradable CG polymer in the other eye of 20 rabbits. Wound and conjunctival reactions were evaluated by external photographs 1 day and then every week after surgery. Echography was used to evaluate the extent of the buckling effect. Electroretinograms were used to evaluate the retinal function after scleral buckling. Histology and immunohistochemistry were used to check the tissue reaction and distribution of myofibroblasts during wound healing. Scanning electronic microscopy of buckling materials was used to analyze structural changes after episcleral implantation.


RESULTS
Biodegradable collagen initially achieved a buckling effect comparable to a silicone sponge; the buckling effect decreased after 1 month. Within 8 to 12 weeks, the collagen was gradually absorbed. After implantation, the collagen matrix degraded, and the pore size decreased as a result of compression and degradation. In contrast, no major structural changes were observed in silicone sponges, except some cell debris, fibrin, and blood cells were detected inside the porous structure of the sponge. The inflammatory responses were comparable between sponge and collagen in most areas of peribuckling histology. In areas of degraded collagen, a foreign body reaction was observable. Electroretinography revealed no detectable difference in retinal function between control and experimental eyes.


CONCLUSIONS
Biodegradable collagen was used effectively and safely as a material for scleral buckling.
Wu
Wei-Chi
WC
Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Lai
Chi-Chun
CC
Chen
Henry Shen-Lih
HS
Sun
Ming-Hui
MH
Lee
Lien-Min
LM
Shih
Chia-Pang
CP
Lee
Howard Wen-Hao
HW
Hsu
Wei-Cherng
WC
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003094:Collagen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004596:Electroretinography; D005129:Eye Foreign Bodies / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000601:surgery; D012591:Scleral Buckling / Q000295:instrumentation*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; C058506:collagen-glycosaminoglycan copolymer; D003094:Collagen