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Interactions of perfluorocarbon liquids and silicone oil as characterized by mass spectrometry

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Abstract

Background

Perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCL) are used extensively in complex vitreoretinal surgery, sometimes before the placement of silicone oil (SiO). We suspected that PFCL and SiO interact physically when in opposition, potentially making their removal more difficult. The nature of some of these interactions was explored using a mass spectrometric approach in in-vitro and in-vivo samples.

Methods

We incubated silicone oil (1,000 or 5,000 centistokes viscosity) and PFCL [perfluoro-n-octane (PFO) or perfluorotributylamine] together in vitro for 6 months and performed electron impact ionization mass spectrometry (EIMS) on the PFCL to characterize interactions between the liquid phases. Packaged samples of PFCL served as controls. We also examined in vivo samples of PFO which had been retained in human eyes for several months prior to surgical removal.

Results

Perfluorocarbon liquids packaged for surgical use all contain SiO in trace amounts, possibly as a manifestation of the processes used in their manufacture. Furthermore, all PFCLs incubated with SiO showed much more prominent contamination with SiO molecular fragments. PFCL was found in the SiO phase of eyes in which both liquids were present for extended periods of time. The EIMS analysis of in vivo samples suggested that proteins coat PFCL droplets, forming micelle-like structures.

Conclusion

Medical-grade PFCLs contain small amounts of SiO, and PFCLs dissolve small amounts of oil into solution over time. Interactions between retained vitreous substitutes may have clinical relevance.

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Acknowledgements

Nicole Shieler of Alcon Surgical, Fort Worth, Texas, graciously provided Perfluoron for our in-vitro investigations. The study was supported in part by the Eye and Ear Foundation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Room 824, 203 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA

    Thomas R. Friberg

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, The Eye & Ear Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Thomas R. Friberg & Andrew W. Eller

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

    Peter E. Siska, Kasi Somayajula & John Williams

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  1. Thomas R. Friberg
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  2. Peter E. Siska
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  3. Kasi Somayajula
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Correspondence to Thomas R. Friberg.

Additional information

Presented, in part, at the XXII Meeting of the Club Jules Gonin, Taormina, Sicily, 2000

The authors have no proprietary interest relevant to this study

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Friberg, T.R., Siska, P.E., Somayajula, K. et al. Interactions of perfluorocarbon liquids and silicone oil as characterized by mass spectrometry. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 241, 809–815 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-003-0698-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-003-0698-5

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