97th DOG Annual Meeting 1999
K95
IN-VITRO STUDY OF SILICONE FOAM AND ePTFE AS POTENTIAL HAPTIC MATERIALS FOR KERATOPROSTHESIS
E. Berger1, K. Gaebert1, J. Saedler1, C. F. Kreiner2, R. Guthoff1
Purpose: In recent years much research has focused on evaluating potential haptic materials that may promote better biointegration. Tissue adhesion and fibroblast ingrowth into the keratoprosthesis haptic is an important factor to ensure a permanent fixation of the prosthetic device and withstand trauma.
Materials and Methods: In vitro tests were performed with human and bovine keratocytes. Tissue culture methods for corneal fibroblasts were developed. Experiments were carried out with several silicone foams with pore size ranging from 50 µm to 1000 µm, thickness of 200 µm and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) with pore size of 30 µm to 60 µm, thickness of 180 µm. Cell proliferation, adhesion and fibroblast ingrowth were evaluated over 2 weeks period on both materials.
Results: After 2 days cell adhesion and fibroblast ingrowth could be observed on silicone foam with pore size between 50 µm to 100 µm and ePTFE with pore size 30 µm to 60 µm. No cell adhesion and fibroblast ingrowth could be observed on silicone foam with pore size over 100 µm.
Conclusion: Silicone foam could be a promising haptic material with the advantage to allow a "true" chemical linkage in a keratoprosthesis having the optical core of transparent silicone. Optimization of silicone foam as haptic material still needs further investigation.
1Dept. of Ophthalmology, University of Rostock, Doberaner-Str. 140, D- 18057 Rostock, Germany
2ACRITEC GmbH, Berlin; Germany
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