Polysaccharide-based tissue adhesives for sealing corneal incisions

Purpose: To investigate the ability of a novel polysaccharide-based tissue adhesive to seal corneal incisions, and to determine the effect of the tissue adhesive on corneal endothelial cells. Methods: A polysaccharide-based tissue adhesive composed of dextran aldehyde and star PEG amines was applied to a 5-mm corneal incision on an enucleated rabbit eye, and the leak pressure of the eye was measured. The tissue adhesive was additionally incubated in direct contact with bovine corneal endothelial cells to evaluate cytotoxicity. Results: The polysaccharide-based tissue adhesive was successful in sealing corneal incisions to pressures of > 10 psi (500 mmHg). The tissue adhesive was non-cytotoxic to bovine corneal endothelial cells. Conclusions: Polysaccharide-based tissue adhesives are efficacious in sealing corneal wounds and are non-cytotoxic to corneal endothelial cells. Such adhesives represent a promising new technology for ophthalmic surgery.