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PVA/STMP based hydrogels as potential substitutes of human vitreous

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Abstract

PVA based hydrogels were synthesised using, as crosslinking agent, trisodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) to obtain potential substitutes for the vitreous body of the eye. The hydrogels, obtained using different amounts of STMP, were characterised by Infrared Spectroscopy which confirmed the successful occurrence of crosslinking reaction. The mechanical spectra of the fully hydrated samples confirmed covalently crosslinked systems (i.e. G′ > G″). The rheological analysis pointed out that only one of the hydrogels (PVA STMP 8:1) showed a behaviour similar to that of human vitreous. The hydrogel was also subjected to injection through a small needle, a procedure that is essential in the use of vitreous substitutes. Further analysis in terms of light transmittance, water content measurements, diffusion coefficient and cytotoxicity confirmed the applicability of such a hydrogel as vitreous substitute.

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Acknowledgments

The Italian Interuniversity Consortium CSGI supported the research. The authors would like to thank Dr. Renzo Pepi and TA Instruments for putting the AR2000 rheometer at authors’ disposal.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical and Applied Chemistry, University of Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy

    Gemma Leone, Marco Consumi, Marianna Aggravi, Alessandro Donati, Stefania Lamponi & Agnese Magnani

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  1. Gemma Leone
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  2. Marco Consumi
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  3. Marianna Aggravi
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  5. Stefania Lamponi
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Correspondence to Gemma Leone.

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Leone, G., Consumi, M., Aggravi, M. et al. PVA/STMP based hydrogels as potential substitutes of human vitreous. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 21, 2491–2500 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-010-4092-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-010-4092-7

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