Synthetic hydrogels have been proposed as vitreous substitutes recently. This study aims to evaluate the biocompatibility of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) crosslinked with trisodium trimetaphosphate (SMTP) hydrogel in rabbit vitrectomized eyes. Seven animals were submitted to pars plana vitrectomy and the vitreous was replaced by PVA/SMTP hydrogel. Optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiogram, clinical, and electrophysiological (ERG) examinations were analyzed at baseline, on postoperative days 7 and 30. The fellow eye was used as the control group. Hydrogel opacification was observed and ERG recordings were reduced in the hydrogel group in rod response, b-wave cone response and flicker. A histological analysis showed retinal disorganization, presence of multinucleated cells, and intraretinal hydrogel particles. The PVA/SMTP hydrogel showed poor biocompatibility. Novel biomaterials compounds should be analyzed in vivo.

中文翻译：

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聚乙烯醇/三偏磷酸三钠作为玻璃体替代物在兔实验性玻璃体切除模型中的生物相容性

最近有人提出合成水凝胶作为玻璃体的替代品。本研究旨在评估与三偏磷酸三钠 (SMTP) 水凝胶交联的聚乙烯醇 (PVA) 在兔玻璃体切除眼中的生物相容性。七只动物接受了玻璃体切除术，玻璃体被 PVA/SMTP 水凝胶替代。在基线、术后第 7 天和第 30 天分析光学相干断层扫描、荧光素血管造影、临床和电生理 (ERG) 检查。对侧眼用作对照组。观察到水凝胶混浊并且在水凝胶组中的杆响应中ERG记录减少，b-波锥响应和闪烁。组织学分析显示视网膜解体、存在多核细胞和视网膜内水凝胶颗粒。PVA/SMTP 水凝胶表现出较差的生物相容性。应在体内分析新型生物材料化合物。