title: Evaluation of the biocompatibility of regenerated cellulose hydrogels with high strength and transparency for ocular applications.
abstract: Prompt emergency treatment for ocular injury, particularly in a battlefield setting, is essential to preserve vision, reduce pain, and prevent secondary infection. A bandage contact lens that could be applied in the field, at the time of injury, would protect the injured ocular surface until hospital treatment is available. Cellulose, a natural polymer, is widely used in biomedical applications including bandage materials. Hydrogels synthesized from different cellulose sources, such as plants, cotton, and bacteria, can have the optical transparency and mechanical strength of contact lenses, by tailoring synthesis parameters. Thus, we optimized the fabrication of cellulose-based hydrogels and evaluated their in vivo biocompatibility and related physical properties. Our data demonstrate that along with tailorable physical properties, our novel cellulose-based hydrogels could be made with contact lens geometry, exhibit no significant signs of material toxicity after 22 days of in vivo testing, and show significant promise for use as a corneal bandage immediately following ocular trauma.
authors.affiliation: Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), Laurel, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Marcia W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Patchan
authors.affiliation: Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: J Jeremy
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.affiliation: Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Justin D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), Laurel, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Xiomara
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Calderon-Colon
authors.affiliation: Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), Laurel, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Maranchi
authors.affiliation: Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), Laurel, Maryland, USA Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Russell L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: McCally
authors.affiliation: Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Oliver D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Schein
authors.affiliation: Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Elisseeff
authors.affiliation: Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL), Laurel, Maryland, USA morgana.trexler@jhuapl.edu.
authors.forename: Morgana M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Trexler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D003261:Contact Lenses; D003263:Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D065306:Corneal Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010539:Permeability; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012828:Silicones / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers; D012828:Silicones; D002482:Cellulose; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Cellulose; bandage contact lens; biocompatibility; hydrogel; ocular injury