The cross-linked biopolymer hyaluronic acid as an artificial vitreous substitute.

Purpose: Biopolymers are promising substances in the development of a new vitreous substitute to overcome the drawbacks associated with current hydrophobic tamponade materials.

Methods: Different hydrogels were assembled by cross-linking hyaluronic acid either with adipic dihydrazide (ADH) by carboxylation with N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDCI) after hydrazation or by photocrosslinking with UV-light and N-vinyl-pyrrolidinone. The refractive index and rheologic properties of the obtained gels were investigated.