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    Retinal-detachment repair and vitreous-like-body reformation via a thermogelling polymer endotamponade

    Year: 2019

    Journal: Nat. Biomed. Eng, Volume 3, AUG, page 598–610

    Authors: Liu, Zengping; Liow, Sing Shy; Li Lai, Siew; Alli-Shaik, Asfa; Holder, Graham E.; Parikh, Bhav Harshad; Krishnakumar, Subramanian; Li, Zibiao; Tan, Mein Jin; Gunaratne, Jayantha; Barathi, Veluchamy Amutha; Hunziker, Walter; Lakshminarayanan, Rajamani; Tan, Clement Woon Teck; Chee, Caroline K.; Zhao, Paul; Lingam, Gopal; Loh, Xian Jun; Su, Xinyi

    Organizations: Biomedical Engineering Programme (BEP) grant, A*STAR, Singapore [2014 POC/1521480032]; NUS Start-up grant [NUHSRO/2016/100/SU/01]; IAF-PP (HMBS Domain) [H17/01/a0/013]

    Internal-tamponade agents are crucial surgical adjuncts in vitreoretinal surgery. Clinically used endotamponade agents act through buoyancy forces, yet can result in prolonged post-operative positioning, temporary loss of vision, raised intra-ocular pressure, cataract formation or the need for additional removal surgery. Here, we describe a thermogelling polymer that provides an internal tamponade effect through surface tension and swelling counter-forces. We tested the long-term biocompatibility of the polymer endotamponade in rabbit vitrectomy models, and its surgical efficacy and biocompatibility in a non-human primate retinal-detachment model. We also show that, while the thermogel biodegrades during the three months following surgery, it promotes the reformation of a vitreous-like body that mimics the biophysical properties of the natural vitreous. The thermogelling endotamponade might serve as a long-term vitreous substitute.
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