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Author Gómez Sánchez, Javier |
Abstract Today, eye diseases are a very common health problem that varies in severity depending on the part affected. Retinal detachment is one of the worst eye diseases, as it can lead to blindness if not treated promptly before the retina is irreversibly damaged. Current treatments offer good results, although they are associated with important comorbidities such as the need to maintain a fixed position for long periods of time that can last more than three weeks in which the patient cannot move in any case. Therefore, a new treatment is needed to overcome all comorbidities while improving the well-being of patients and reducing costs. It is in this context that heat-sensitive hydrogels appear as a possible solution. Specifically, p-NIPAAm hydrogels, since they have an LCST around 32 ° C which is below body temperature. Therefore, it can be injected into the eye with the same current surgical techniques and due to the higher body temperature, the hydrogel will form a patch that will cover the hole causing the detachment. To have a viable candidate, you must have biocompatibility, adherence to the retina, impermeability, and good injectability. In this work, different experiments were carried out to evaluate the four main characteristics required for the application. In addition, the synthesis of the p-NIPAAm hydrogel was optimized to obtain a lower amount of free monomer contained in the hydrogel, thus reducing possible toxicity. Free monomer was measured by headspace gas chromatography techniques. And the viscoelastic behavior and the LCST of the candidates were determined by rheology. At the end of the project, a candidate is obtained to carry out the clinical proof of concept. |
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Director Borrós i Gómez, Salvador |
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Degree IQS SE - Master’s Degree in Bioengineering |
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Date 2021-07-30
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