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Tram Dissertation Final.pdf (2.35 MB)

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Hydrogels with Antioxidants that Replace the Physical and Chemical Functions of the Vitreous Humor

Tram, Nguyen Khoi
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu158558328501199

Abstract Details

2020, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Biomedical Engineering.
The vitreous humor is a fragile, transparent hydrogel between the lens and the retina that liquefies with age, causing complications such as cataract formation, retinal detachment, and macular hole, sometimes necessitating surgical replacement with a substitute. Current clinical and experimental vitreous substitutes are inadequate since they do not address the problem of oxidative damage after the removal and replacement of the natural vitreous. In fact, up to 95% of patients require cataract extraction within 24 months after vitrectomy. There is a clear clinical need for a new generation of biomimetic vitreous substitutes that can replace not only the physical roles but also chemical functions of the natural vitreous humor. The objective of this project was to create an antioxidant releasing hydrogel as a vitreous substitute. This hydrogel must adequately provide the mechanical functions and have similar material properties as the natural human vitreous. Additionally, the hydrogel must have the potential to mitigate the oxidative damage in the eye post-vitrectomy and potentially reestablish the natural oxygen gradient in the vitreous. Rheological properties and age-related changes of the human vitreous humor were determined for the first time to aid the design of a biomimetic hydrogel vitreous substitute. Novel injectable hydrogel vitreous substitutes were created and had similar mechanical and optical properties as the natural vitreous humor and were non-toxic to human lens and retinal epithelial cells in vitro. Vitamin C was loaded into the hydrogels with the goal of protecting the ocular tissues, particularly the lens, from oxidative stress. The hydrogels and vitamin C had a synergistic effect in reducing the reactive oxygen species activity when in culture with lens and retinal cells. Finally, glutathione was proposed as another antioxidant to be used in conjunction with vitamin C. Glutathione prolonged the antioxidant activity of vitamin C, protected the lens and retinal cells from vitamin C toxicity, and could be used with vitamin C in hydrogel vitreous substitutes. These antioxidants-loaded hydrogel vitreous substitutes have the potential to prevent post-vitrectomy cataract formation, significantly reducing the cost of additional treatments for patients and health care providers and ultimately shifting the design paradigm of current vitreous substitutes.
Katelyn Swindle-Reilly (Advisor)
Matthew Reilly (Committee Member)
Cynthia Roberts (Committee Member)
120 p.
Biomedical Engineering

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Tram, N. K. (2020). Hydrogels with Antioxidants that Replace the Physical and Chemical Functions of the Vitreous Humor [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu158558328501199

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Tram, Nguyen. Hydrogels with Antioxidants that Replace the Physical and Chemical Functions of the Vitreous Humor. 2020. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu158558328501199.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Tram, Nguyen. "Hydrogels with Antioxidants that Replace the Physical and Chemical Functions of the Vitreous Humor." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu158558328501199

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu158558328501199
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