Chan Yau Kei, Cheng Ho Ching, Wu Jing, Tang Yuk Heng Matthew, Chan San To, Wong David, Shum Ho Cheung
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Department of Ophthalmology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Acta Ophthalmol. 2018 Feb;96(1):e38-e45. doi: 10.1111/aos.13465. Epub 2017 Jun 14.
The emulsification of silicone oil (SO) is associated with many complications. In this study, we investigate a new SO solvent, perfluorobutylpentane (F4H5) with 1% by volume of perfluorinated polyethers-polyethylene glycol-perfluorinated polyethers (PFPE-PEG-PFPE) triblock copolymer, for removing emulsified droplets.
An in vitro 3D printed model eye chamber was used to evaluate the efficiency of the three test liquids in removing SO droplets, namely saline, F4H5 and F4H5 with surfactant PFPE-PEG-PFPE. The numbers of SO droplets were quantified using a Coulter Counter. The stability of double emulsion formed was tested with a fluidic device based on electro-coalescence. Two retinal cell lines were used to test the biocompatibility of the liquids.
The mean number of droplets remaining in the eye chamber after rinsing with a solution of F4H5 with surfactant was 13 315 ± 4620/ml compared to saline (23 460 ± 7595/ml; p < 0.05). The double emulsion was found to be highly stable. The biocompatibility of F4H5 and the surfactant was similar to that of the saline control.
By adding a small amount of surfactant, the resultant F4H5 solution is able to promote double emulsification and remove more SO droplets. Although further in vivo safety studies are necessary before clinical trials, the result of our study suggests that F4H5 with surfactant is a promising Rinsing Solution for removing emulsified droplets. This work therefore translates a well-known phenomenon in emulsion science to tackle the emulsification problem observed in the routine vitreoretinal surgery.
硅油（SO）乳化会引发多种并发症。在本研究中，我们探究了一种新型SO溶剂全氟丁基戊烷（F4H5），其含有体积分数为1%的全氟聚醚 - 聚乙二醇 - 全氟聚醚（PFPE - PEG - PFPE）三嵌段共聚物，用于去除乳化液滴。
使用体外3D打印模型眼房来评估三种测试液体（即生理盐水、F4H5以及添加表面活性剂PFPE - PEG - PFPE的F4H5）去除SO液滴的效率。使用库尔特计数器对SO液滴数量进行定量。基于电聚结的流体装置测试形成的双重乳液的稳定性。使用两种视网膜细胞系测试这些液体的生物相容性。
用添加表面活性剂的F4H5溶液冲洗后，眼房中残留的液滴平均数量为13315±4620/ml，而生理盐水冲洗后为23460±7595/ml（p<0.05）。发现双重乳液具有高度稳定性。F4H5和表面活性剂的生物相容性与生理盐水对照相似。
通过添加少量表面活性剂，所得F4H5溶液能够促进双重乳化并去除更多SO液滴。尽管在进行临床试验之前有必要进行进一步的体内安全性研究，但我们的研究结果表明，添加表面活性剂的F4H5是一种有前景的用于去除乳化液滴的冲洗液。因此，这项工作将乳液科学中的一个知名现象转化应用，以解决常规玻璃体视网膜手术中观察到的乳化问题。
