Fan Victoria H, Sun Michael G, Al-Qahtani Ahmed F, Vieira Ibraim V, Yu Charles Q
Department of Ophthalmology, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Department of Ophthalmology, Illinois Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Curr Eye Res. 2025 Jul;50(7):677-683. doi: 10.1080/02713683.2025.2485186. Epub 2025 Apr 3.
To design, produce and implant one-piece flexible acrylic keratoprostheses for the treatment of corneal blindness.
A protocol was developed to produce flexible acrylic sheets of differing properties, and their mechanical characteristics were evaluated. To assess toxicity, an MTT assay was performed. 3D-printed injection molding technique of this material was designed to fabricate flexible keratoprostheses with complex shapes. A pilot study involving a 3-month implantation in a rabbit was conducted, including histological analysis.
Flexible acrylic copolymer sheets of high clarity were produced by free radical polymerization. Their mechanical properties and refractive indices could be altered with different material formulations. They demonstrated no toxicity in human corneal cells MTT assay. 3D printed silver molds allowed for the production of keratoprostheses of complex shapes made from these materials. Surgical implantation resulted in clear implant at 3 months.
Molding of flexible acrylic allows for production of one-piece keratoprostheses of a complex shape and opens new possibilities for the treatment of corneal blindness.
设计、制作并植入一体式柔性丙烯酸角膜假体用于治疗角膜盲。
制定了生产具有不同特性的柔性丙烯酸片材的方案,并对其机械特性进行了评估。为评估毒性,进行了MTT试验。设计了这种材料的3D打印注射成型技术,以制造具有复杂形状的柔性角膜假体。开展了一项在兔子体内进行3个月植入的初步研究,包括组织学分析。
通过自由基聚合制备出了高透明度的柔性丙烯酸共聚物片材。其机械性能和折射率可通过不同的材料配方改变。MTT试验表明它们对人角膜细胞无毒性。3D打印银模具可用于生产由这些材料制成的具有复杂形状的角膜假体。手术植入3个月后植入物保持清晰。
柔性丙烯酸的成型使得制造具有复杂形状的一体式角膜假体成为可能,并为角膜盲的治疗开辟了新的可能性。