A Shape Memory Polymeric Shield for Protecting Corneal Endothelium During Phacoemulsification

TL;DR

A shape memory polymer shield was developed to protect the corneal endothelium during eye surgery in rabbits, significantly reducing cell loss and swelling.

Contribution

A new shape memory polymeric shield was introduced to protect corneal endothelium during phacoemulsification.

Findings

The shield reduced lost cell ratio from 28.08% to 3.50% post-surgery.

Central corneal thickness was significantly lower in the shield group.

Endothelial cell density was higher in the shield group seven days post-surgery.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the protective effect of a shape memory polymeric shield on corneal endothelium during phacoemulsification in rabbits.

Poly-(glycerol dodecanedioate) (PGD) with a transition temperature of 24.416°C was prepared to make a shape memory shield with a thickness of 100 µm, an arc length of 14 mm, and a radius of curvature of 8.8 mm. In the control group, a phaco-tip with bevel-down was used to simulate injury to the corneal endothelium by phacoemulsification in rabbits. In the experimental group, the pre-cooled and curled shape memory shield was injected into and removed from the anterior chamber before and after phaco-power release. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), confocal microscope, trypan blue/alizarin red staining, and scanning electron microscope were performed to measure endothelial damage after surgery.

One day postoperatively, the lost cell ratio of the control group and the experimental group were 28.08 ± 5.21% and 3.50 ± 1.43%, respectively (P < 0.0001), the damaged cell ratios were 11.83 ± 2.30% and 2.55 ± 0.52%, respectively (P < 0.0001), and the central corneal thicknesses (CCT) were 406.75 ± 16.74 µm and 340. 5 ±13.48 µm, respectively (P < 0.0001). Seven days postoperatively, the endothelial cell density (ECD) of the control group and the experimental group were 1674 ± 285/mm2 and 2561 ± 554/mm2, respectively (P < 0.05). The above differences were all statistically significant.

This PGD based shape memory shield has a protective effect on corneal endothelium during phacoemulsification. It reduces postoperative corneal edema and ECD decrease in the short term after surgery.

The shape memory PGD “shield” in this study may have a use in certain human patients with vulnerable corneas of low endothelial cell count or shallow anterior chambers.

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