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In Situ Forming Hydrogels: A Thermo‐Responsive Polyelectrolyte as Promising Liquid Artificial Vitreous Body Replacement
Author(s) -
Strotmann Falko,
Bezdushna Ella,
Ritter Helmut,
Galla HansJoachim
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
advanced engineering materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.938
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1527-2648
pISSN - 1438-1656
DOI - 10.1002/adem.201080104
Subject(s) - polyelectrolyte , biocompatibility , materials science , self healing hydrogels , polymer , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , composite material , engineering , metallurgy
The use of fully synthetic polymers as a liquid artificial vitreous body replacement (LAVR) was already considered, but yet none of these polymers have proven to be successful in long term retention in the vitreous cavity due to inadequate biocompatibility and fast biodegradation. Our novel cross‐linked polyelectrolyte as a potential intraocular endotamponade shows an innovative concept of thermoresponsive behavior proposed for the first time in ophthalmologic surgery. The polyelectrolyte has been elaborated via a three‐step procedure by combining classical synthetic protocols and microwave technique. We observed that the polyelectrolyte comprising sodium 2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropane sulfonate and acrylic functionalized poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) macromonomer with glycerol dimethacrylate as cross‐linker displays a noticeable thermosensitive behavior. It exhibits enhancement of shear viscosity at physiological temperatures without phase separation. First in vitro experiments on a retinal ganglion cell line (RGC‐5) present a promising biocompatibility without harmful effects. Cell viability, proliferation rate, and inflammatory cascade (COX‐2 and iNOS expression) were not affected.