Fast in situ enzymatic gelation of PPO-PEO block copolymer for injectable intraocular lens in vivo.
Foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs) have been utilized to substitute natural lens of cataract patients. In this study, we developed a fast, in situ gelable hydrogel requiring no toxic agent as an injectable IOL material. A 4-armed PPO/PEO-phenol conjugate by a non-degradable linker was synthesized to form a hydrogel in situ by horseradish peroxidase. The gelation time and modulus could be controlled, ranging from 20 s to 2 min and from 1 to 43 kPa. The adhesion of human lens epithelial cells on the hydrogel was significantly reduced compared to that on commercial IOLs. The hydrogels were injected into the rabbit eyes to evaluate the in vivo biocompatibility for 8 weeks. Corneal endothelial cell loss and central corneal thickness were comparable with the common IOL implantation procedure. Histologically, the cornea and retina showed the intact structure. The change of refraction after application of pilocarpine was +0.42 D preoperatively and +0.83 D postoperatively, which may indicate the maintenance of accommodation amplitude.
1School of Materials Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Korea.
Hanna
H
Lee
Han Jin
HJ
Oh
Kyung Chul
KC
Yoon
Giyoong
G
Tae
Young Ha
YH
Kim
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D002417:Cattle; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005029:Ethylenediamines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D005782:Gels; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011817:Rabbits; D012212:Rheology
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D005029:Ethylenediamines; D005782:Gels; D020100:Hydrogels; C112299:Tetronic 1107; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase
Injectable intraocular lens; PPO-PEO block copolymers; enzymatic cross-linking; hydrogel