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Towards better characterization and quantification of emulsification of silicone oil in vitro
Author(s) -
Chan Yau Kei,
Czanner Gabriela,
Shum Ho Cheung,
Williams Rachel L.,
Cheung Ning,
Wong David
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.13258
Subject(s) - emulsion , homogenization (climate) , coulter counter , silicone oil , materials science , chromatography , dynamic light scattering , oil droplet , sonication , silicone , analytical chemistry (journal) , composite material , chemistry , nanotechnology , biodiversity , ecology , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , nanoparticle
Purpose Emulsification is related to complications arising from silicone oil ( SO ) tamponade. Currently, there is no widely accepted method for testing the propensity of SO to emulsify that are physiologically realistic and quantitative. Methods We compared different ways of inducing emulsification namely vortex mixing, sonication and homogenization. Silicone oil (SO) emulsification was quantitatively assessed using the Coulter counter and laser light scattering. The in vitro results are compared with the droplet size distribution profile of vitreous clinical washout. Conventional SO was compared with two novel SO blends with high‐molecular‐weight ( HMW ) additives ( SO HMW 2000 and SO HMW 5000 ). Results Of the three methods for inducing emulsification, homogenization generated the most consistent emulsion samples with the smallest variance. The results from the Coulter counter measurement correlated strongly with the laser light scattering measurement within the range of 1 to 30 µm. The droplet size distribution profiles from human eyes were similar to that of emulsions generated in vitro by homogenization. The human size distribution profile was within the range of values obtained by the in vitro experiment. Compared to the conventional SO , the emulsion droplet counts for the new SO blends were significantly lower ( SO HMW 2000 and SO HMW 5000 were 79% (±17%) and 49% (±18%) of the SO 2000 and SO 5000 , respectively; p = 0.03 and p = 0.002). Conclusion Emulsion generated in vitro by homogenization has similar droplet size profile as human eyes filled with SO . Using this method to induce emulsion, SO blends with HMW additives demonstrated less propensity to emulsification with lower droplet counts compared to conventional SO with similar shear viscosity.