Abstract

P 202

An artificial vitreous substitute by cross-linking the biopolymer hyaluronic acid

Charlotte Frank, Martin S. Spitzer, Sigrid Henke-Fahle, Efdal Yoeruek, Karl-Ulrich Bartz-Schmidt, Peter Szurman
Universitäts-Augenklinik, Department für Augenheilkunde, Eberhard-Karls Universität, Tübingen

Objective
Aim of the study was to create an artificial vitreous substitute by cross-linking the biopolymer hyaluronic acid in order to obtain a clear, biocompatible, antiproliferative, antiadhesive, three-dimensional hydrogel that does not change the optical refraction properties.
Methods
Different hydrogels were assembled by cross-linking hyaluronic acid either with hydrazides or by photopolymerization with uv-light. To quantify the degradation of the hydrogels the release of hyaluronic acid was measured photometrically by means of the degradation product uronic acid. Furthermore various cell culture methods were used to monitor the in vitro effects of the hydrogels on retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE cells).
Results
The developed hydrogels were all clear and transparent, three-dimensional and rubberlike. The quantification of the degradation products revealed that only a small release occurred during the observation period of one month. No toxicity and induction of apoptosis against RPE cells was found in the in vitro experiments. 
Conclusions
Two ways to create a three-dimensional vitreous substitute by cross-linking hyaluronic acid exist. Both hydrogels have similar qualities concerning transparency and consistency as well as the apparent slow degradation. Moreover, the hydrogels seem to be biocompatible and thus conform with many of the desired properties. However, the problem of a practical application (i. e. cross-linking in situ) remains to be solved.

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