title: In vitro biocompatibility of new PVA-based hydrogels as vitreous body substitutes.
abstract: In order to synthesize injectable hydrogels suitable as vitreous body substitutes, a new method based on the use of trisodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) to cross-link PVA was recently proposed. Hydrogels with different molar ratios between STMP and PVA were realised. The aim of the present  study was the evaluation of the biocompatibility of the different STMP/PVA hydrogels synthesised by analysing the effects of their in vitro interaction with cultures of mouse fibroblasts NIH3T3, primary human microvascular endothelial cells adult (HMVECad) and human lens cells. Cytotoxicity  of hydrogels was first evaluated by analysing cell density and proliferation. Morphological and morphometric analysis of cell in contact with hydrogels was then performed using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Moreover, cell adhesion and growth onto the hydrogels  surface was evaluated and correlated to the amount of adsorbed proteins. At last, the biocompatibility of the sheared STMP/PVA 1:8 hydrogel was tested. The in vitro data of all the STMP/PVA hydrogels demonstrated their good biocompatibility, and indicated that the 1:8 sample was the  most promising as vitreous body substitute.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pure and Applied Medicinal Chemistry, University of Siena, via Aldo Moro 2, 53110 Siena, Italy. Lamponi@unisi.it
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lamponi
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Consumi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Agnese
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magnani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002452:Cell Count; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D010710:Phosphates; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol