title: Biocompatibility of poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(acrylic acid) interpenetrating network hydrogel by intrastromal implantation in rabbit cornea.
abstract: We evaluated the biocompatibility of a poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(acrylic acid) (PEG/PAA) interpenetrating network hydrogel designed for artificial cornea in a rabbit model. PEG/PAA hydrogel measuring 6 mm in diameter was implanted in the corneal stroma of twelve rabbits. Stromal flaps were created with a microkeratome. Randomly, six rabbits were assigned to bear the implant for 2 months, two rabbits for 6 months, two rabbits for 9 months, one rabbit for 12 months, and one rabbit for 16 months. Rabbits were evaluated monthly. After the assigned period, eyes were enucleated, and corneas were processed for histology and immunohistochemistry. There were clear corneas in three of six rabbits that had implantation of hydrogel for 2 months. In the six rabbits with implant for 6 months or longer, the corneas remained clear in four. There was a high rate of epithelial defect and corneal thinning in these six rabbits. One planned 9-month rabbit developed extrusion of implant at 4 months. The cornea remained clear in the 16-month rabbit but histology revealed epithelial in-growth. Intrastromal implantation of PEG/PAA resulted in a high rate of long-term complications.
authors.affiliation: Byers Eye Institute at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.|Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Engineering, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Luo Luo
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Byers Eye Institute at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Vijay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vanchinathan
authors.affiliation: Byers Eye Institute at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Roopa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dalal
authors.affiliation: Byers Eye Institute at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Jaan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noolandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University School of Engineering, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Dale J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University School of Engineering, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hartmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Engineering, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cochran
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University School of Engineering, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Curtis W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.affiliation: Byers Eye Institute at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Charles Q
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Byers Eye Institute at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Christopher N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ta
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D008422:Materials Testing; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D020100:Hydrogels; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C006903:carbopol 940
keywords: artificial cornea; biocompatibility; hydrogel; interpenetrating network; keratoprosthesis; poly(acrylic acid); poly(ethylene glycol)