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Abstract

Die immer weiter steigende Zahl an Glaukompatienten erfordert neue und langfristige Lösungen zur Regulierung des Augeninnendrucks und damit zur Behandlung des Glaukoms. Da bisherige Therapieansätze häufig nur kurzfristig helfen oder Komplikationen hervorrufen, stellen wir hier die Forschung an einem neuartigen Implantat vor, das langfristig wirken und Hypotonie nach dem Eingriff sowie Restenosen verhindern soll. Die Grundidee des Implantats basiert auf einem Polymergel, dem Hyaluronsäure-Hydrogel (HA-Gel), das sowohl die Druckregulierung im Auge übernehmen wie auch Vernarbungsprozesse verhindern und somit die Verträglichkeit des Implantats erhöhen soll.

Background The increasing numbers of glaucoma patients and complications occuring during treatment, such as restenosis and hypotony, require new treatment options to prevent blindness in patients. Therefore, the abovementioned problems should be solved to prolong the lifetime of implants and to prevent repeated surgery. Objective Can a novel stent with hyaluronic acid hydrogels (HA gel) as a functional unit be used to regulate pressure in glaucoma therapy in the long term? Material and methods Model stents were filled with HA gels and it was investigated if these could regulate the pressure and what the underlying mechanism is. Results The results of the investigations showed that the HA gel inside the stent functions as a pressure valve. Under certain equilibrium pressures the HA gel closes the stent and therefore retains the fluid. At a certain overpressure the HA gel enables the fluid to be released and leads to a self-regulated adjustment of the equilibrium pressure. Discussion The next step will involve miniaturization of the stents. Experiments will then show if the valve function will also work in the dimensions necessary for an eye implant and if the current problem of hypotension in glaucoma therapy can be solved.