Development of a biodegradable flow resisting polymer membrane for a novel glaucoma microstent

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Stefan Siewert
  • Karen Falke
  • Frank Luderer
  • Thomas Reske
  • Wolfram Schmidt
  • Sylvia Pfensig
  • Michael Stiehm
  • Ulf Hinze
  • Boris Chichkov
  • Niels Grabow
  • Rudolf Guthoff
  • Klaus Peter Schmitz

External Research Organisations

  • Institute for ImplantTechnology and Biomaterials e.V.
  • University of Rostock
  • Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH)
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number78
JournalBiomedical microdevices
Volume19
Publication statusPublished - 26 Aug 2017
Externally publishedYes

Abstract

Within this paper we analyzed the technical feasibility of a novel microstent for glaucoma therapy. For lowering of intraocular pressure, the flexible polyurethane (PUR) implant is designed to drain aqueous humour from the anterior chamber of the eye into subconjunctival, or alternatively suprachoroidal, space. The microstent includes a biodegradable, flow resisting polymer membrane serving as temporary flow resistance for the prevention of early postoperative hypotony. A biodegradable local drug delivery (LDD)-device was designed to prevent fibrous encapsulation. Biodegradable components were made of flexible, nonwoven membranes of Poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) (P(4HB)). Polymer samples and microstent prototypes were manufactured by means of dip coating, electrospinning and femtosecond-laser micromachining and characterized in vitro with regard to structural and fluid mechanical properties, degradation behavior and drug release. Bending stiffness of PUR-tubing (62.53 ± 7.57 mN mm2) is comparable to conventional glaucoma drainage devices in a tube-plate design. Microstent prototypes yield a flow resistance of 2.4 ± 0.6 mmHg/μl min−1 which is close to the aspired value corresponding to physiological pressure (15 mmHg) and aqueous humour flow (2 μl min−1) conditions inside the eye. Degradation of electrospun P(4HB) specimens was found to be almost completely finished after six months in vitro. Within this time frame, flow capacity of the microstent increases, which is beneficial to compensate potentially increasing flow resistance of fibrous tissue in vivo. Fast drug release of the LDD-device was found. One microstent prototype was implanted into a porcine eye ex vivo. Future preclinical studies will allow further information about Microstent performance.

Keywords

    Electrospinning, Femtosecond-laser micromachining, Glaucoma drainage device, Microfluidics

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cite this

Development of a biodegradable flow resisting polymer membrane for a novel glaucoma microstent. / Siewert, Stefan; Falke, Karen; Luderer, Frank et al.
In: Biomedical microdevices, Vol. 19, 78, 26.08.2017.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Siewert, S, Falke, K, Luderer, F, Reske, T, Schmidt, W, Pfensig, S, Stiehm, M, Hinze, U, Chichkov, B, Grabow, N, Guthoff, R & Schmitz, KP 2017, 'Development of a biodegradable flow resisting polymer membrane for a novel glaucoma microstent', Biomedical microdevices, vol. 19, 78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10544-017-0218-8
Siewert, S., Falke, K., Luderer, F., Reske, T., Schmidt, W., Pfensig, S., Stiehm, M., Hinze, U., Chichkov, B., Grabow, N., Guthoff, R., & Schmitz, K. P. (2017). Development of a biodegradable flow resisting polymer membrane for a novel glaucoma microstent. Biomedical microdevices, 19, Article 78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10544-017-0218-8
Siewert S, Falke K, Luderer F, Reske T, Schmidt W, Pfensig S et al. Development of a biodegradable flow resisting polymer membrane for a novel glaucoma microstent. Biomedical microdevices. 2017 Aug 26;19:78. doi: 10.1007/s10544-017-0218-8
Siewert, Stefan ; Falke, Karen ; Luderer, Frank et al. / Development of a biodegradable flow resisting polymer membrane for a novel glaucoma microstent. In: Biomedical microdevices. 2017 ; Vol. 19.
Download
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abstract = "Within this paper we analyzed the technical feasibility of a novel microstent for glaucoma therapy. For lowering of intraocular pressure, the flexible polyurethane (PUR) implant is designed to drain aqueous humour from the anterior chamber of the eye into subconjunctival, or alternatively suprachoroidal, space. The microstent includes a biodegradable, flow resisting polymer membrane serving as temporary flow resistance for the prevention of early postoperative hypotony. A biodegradable local drug delivery (LDD)-device was designed to prevent fibrous encapsulation. Biodegradable components were made of flexible, nonwoven membranes of Poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) (P(4HB)). Polymer samples and microstent prototypes were manufactured by means of dip coating, electrospinning and femtosecond-laser micromachining and characterized in vitro with regard to structural and fluid mechanical properties, degradation behavior and drug release. Bending stiffness of PUR-tubing (62.53 ± 7.57 mN mm2) is comparable to conventional glaucoma drainage devices in a tube-plate design. Microstent prototypes yield a flow resistance of 2.4 ± 0.6 mmHg/μl min−1 which is close to the aspired value corresponding to physiological pressure (15 mmHg) and aqueous humour flow (2 μl min−1) conditions inside the eye. Degradation of electrospun P(4HB) specimens was found to be almost completely finished after six months in vitro. Within this time frame, flow capacity of the microstent increases, which is beneficial to compensate potentially increasing flow resistance of fibrous tissue in vivo. Fast drug release of the LDD-device was found. One microstent prototype was implanted into a porcine eye ex vivo. Future preclinical studies will allow further information about Microstent performance.",
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AU - Siewert, Stefan

AU - Falke, Karen

AU - Luderer, Frank

AU - Reske, Thomas

AU - Schmidt, Wolfram

AU - Pfensig, Sylvia

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AU - Hinze, Ulf

AU - Chichkov, Boris

AU - Grabow, Niels

AU - Guthoff, Rudolf

AU - Schmitz, Klaus Peter

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