Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, Boston, MA, USA.
Biomater Sci. 2023 Feb 14;11(4):1318-1334. doi: 10.1039/d2bm01013e.
Adhesive hydrogels based on chemically modified photocrosslinkable polymers with specific physicochemical properties are frequently utilized for sealing wounds or incisions. These adhesive hydrogels offer tunable characteristics such as tailorable tissue adhesion, mechanical properties, swelling ratios, and enzymatic degradability. In this study, we developed and optimized a photocrosslinkable adhesive patch, GelPatch, with high burst pressure, minimal swelling, and specific mechanical properties for application as an ocular (sclera and subconjunctival) tissue adhesive. To achieve this, we formulated a series of hydrogel patches composed of different polymers with various levels of methacrylation, molecular weights, and hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties. A computerized multifactorial definitive screening design (DSD) analysis was performed to identify the most prominent components impacting critical response parameters such as adhesion, swelling ratio, elastic modulus, and second order interactions between applied components. These parameters were mathematically processed to generate a predictive model that identifies the linear and non-linear correlations between these factors. In conclusion, an optimized formulation of GelPatch was selected based on two modified polymers: gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and glycidyl methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HAGM). The results confirmed adhesion and retention of the optimized hydrogel subconjunctivally and on the sclera for up to 4 days. The developed formulation has potential to be used as an ocular sealant for quick repair of laceration type ocular injuries.
基于具有特定物理化学性质的化学改性光交联聚合物的黏附性水凝胶常用于密封伤口或切口。这些黏附性水凝胶具有可调节的特性，如可定制的组织黏附性、机械性能、溶胀比和酶降解性。在这项研究中，我们开发并优化了一种具有高爆裂压力、最小溶胀和特定机械性能的光交联黏附贴片 GelPatch，用作眼部（巩膜和结膜下）组织黏合剂。为了实现这一目标，我们配制了一系列由不同聚合物组成的水凝胶贴片，这些聚合物具有不同程度的甲基丙烯酰化、分子量和疏水性/亲水性。采用计算机多因素确定性筛选设计（DSD）分析来确定对关键响应参数（如黏附性、溶胀比、弹性模量和施加成分之间的二阶相互作用）影响最大的成分。这些参数通过数学处理生成一个预测模型，识别这些因素之间的线性和非线性相关性。总之，基于两种改性聚合物：明胶甲基丙烯酰（GelMA）和甲基丙烯酰化透明质酸（HAGM），选择了 GelPatch 的优化配方。结果证实，优化后的水凝胶在结膜下和巩膜上的黏附性和保留性长达 4 天。所开发的配方具有作为眼部密封剂用于快速修复撕裂型眼部损伤的潜力。
