title: Biocompatibility of genipin and glutaraldehyde cross-linked chitosan materials in the anterior chamber of the eye.
abstract: Chitosan is a naturally occurring cationic polysaccharide and has attracted much attention in the past decade as an important ophthalmic biomaterial. We recently demonstrated that the genipin (GP) cross-linked chitosan is compatible with human retinal pigment epithelial cells. The present work aims to further investigate the in vivo biocompatibility of GP-treated chitosan (GP-chi group) by adopting the anterior chamber of a rabbit eye model. The glutaraldehyde (GTA) cross-linked samples (GTA-chi group) were used for comparison. The 7-mm-diameter membrane implants made from either non-cross-linked chitosan or chemically modified materials with a cross-linking degree of around 80% were inserted in the ocular anterior chamber for 24 weeks and characterized by slit-lamp and specular microscopic examinations, intraocular pressure measurements, and corneal thickness measurements. The interleukin-6 expressions at mRNA level were also detected by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results of clinical observations showed that the overall ocular scores in the GTA-chi groups were relatively high. In contrast, the rabbits bearing GP-chi implants in the anterior chamber of the eye exhibited no signs of ocular inflammation. As compared to the non-cross-linked counterparts, the GP-chi samples improved the preservation of corneal endothelial cell density and possessed better anti-inflammatory activities, indicating the benefit action of the GP cross-linker. In summary, the intracameral tissue response to the chemically modified chitosan materials strongly depends on the selection of cross-linking agents.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemical and Biomedical Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.|Biomedical Engineering Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.|Molecular Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jui-Yang
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000601:surgery; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D048271:Chitosan / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005976:Glutaral / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D039823:Iridoids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D039823:Iridoids; D048271:Chitosan; C007834:genipin; D005976:Glutaral
keywords: biocompatibility; chemical cross-linking; chitosan; ocular anterior chamber