TY - JOUR
T1 - A New Polymeric Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Implant
AU - Pereira, Ines C. F.
AU - Bartels, Paul A. A.
AU - Bertens, Christian J. F.
AU - Soentjens, Serge H. M.
AU - Wyss, Hans M.
AU - Schenning, Albertus P. H. J.
AU - Dankers, Patricia Y. W.
AU - Beckers, Henny J. M.
AU - den Toonder, Jaap M. J.
PY - 2024/2/1
Y1 - 2024/2/1
N2 - Glaucoma drainage devices are implanted in the eye to treat glaucoma, a disease that can cause vision loss and blindness. These devices are designed to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP), a major risk factor for the progression of glaucoma, by providing an alternative outflow path for the fluid produced by the eye, the aqueous humor. Here, a novel polymeric minimally invasive glaucoma implant designed to enhance aqueous humor outflow is demonstrated. The implant is made of a unique, potentially biodegradable thermoplastic material, polycarbonate bisamide (PC-BA), and produced through replica molding using hot embossing and femtosecond laser-machined glass molds. Post-mortem experiments demonstrate successful device implantation into a rabbit's eye, with the implant remaining securely in place. Although the mass loss and changes in molecular weight observed in the in vitro degradation experiments are not significant within the tested times and degradation conditions, the PC-BA is a slow-degradation polymer that may take a few years to fully degrade. Thus, the implant will also slowly degrade and be absorbed by the body over time, leaving behind a natural outflow pathway. This potentially biodegradable glaucoma implant may represent a promising new approach for restoring outflow in a more natural way.
AB - Glaucoma drainage devices are implanted in the eye to treat glaucoma, a disease that can cause vision loss and blindness. These devices are designed to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP), a major risk factor for the progression of glaucoma, by providing an alternative outflow path for the fluid produced by the eye, the aqueous humor. Here, a novel polymeric minimally invasive glaucoma implant designed to enhance aqueous humor outflow is demonstrated. The implant is made of a unique, potentially biodegradable thermoplastic material, polycarbonate bisamide (PC-BA), and produced through replica molding using hot embossing and femtosecond laser-machined glass molds. Post-mortem experiments demonstrate successful device implantation into a rabbit's eye, with the implant remaining securely in place. Although the mass loss and changes in molecular weight observed in the in vitro degradation experiments are not significant within the tested times and degradation conditions, the PC-BA is a slow-degradation polymer that may take a few years to fully degrade. Thus, the implant will also slowly degrade and be absorbed by the body over time, leaving behind a natural outflow pathway. This potentially biodegradable glaucoma implant may represent a promising new approach for restoring outflow in a more natural way.
KW - glaucoma implant
KW - microfabrication
KW - minimally invasive
KW - polycarbonate bisamide
KW - TREATMENT OUTCOMES
KW - SURGERY
KW - BAERVELDT
KW - PHACOEMULSIFICATION
KW - DEGRADATION
U2 - 10.1002/admt.202301686
DO - 10.1002/admt.202301686
M3 - Article
SN - 2365-709X
JO - Advanced Materials Technologies
JF - Advanced Materials Technologies
ER -