Effects of antigen removal on a porcine osteochondral xenograft for articular cartilage repair.

Given the limited availability of fresh osteochondral allografts and uncertainty regarding performance of decellularized allografts, this study was undertaken as part of an effort to develop an osteochondral xenograft for articular cartilage repair. The purpose was to evaluate a simple antigen removal procedure based mainly on treatment with SDS and nucleases. Histology demonstrated a preservation of collagenous structure and removal of most nuclei.

Sealing and healing of clear corneal incisions with an improved dextran aldehyde-PEG amine tissue adhesive.

Purpose: To create a non-cytotoxic, spontaneously curing tissue adhesive that is strongly bonding and persistent enough that 1-2 μL is capable of sealing a clear corneal incision throughout the first five days of healing.

Methods: A novel prototype delivery device capable of delivering 1-2 μL of a two-component adhesive delivered aqueous solutions of dextran aldehyde and star PEG amine, which mixed by diffusion and crosslinked to form an adhesive hydrogel. Adhesive hydrogels were tested for rates of degradation in phosphate-buffered saline, leak pressures when used to seal clear corneal incisions in enucleated rabbit eyes, and in vitro cytotoxicity when placed in contact with NIH3T3 fibroblast cells.

Convenient large-scale synthesis of D-glucaro-1,4:6,3-dilactone.

Calcium D-glucarate was converted into D-glucaro-1,4:6,3-dilactone on 32-g, 1-kg, and 22-kg scale, using azeotropic distillation with methyl isobutyl ketone to drive the dehydration. The crystalline product was > or = 99.5% pure by GC and NMR, and overall yield was as high as 72%.

Characterization of star adhesive sealants based on PEG/dextran hydrogels.

Swellable PEG amine/dextran aldehyde composite materials are emerging as a controlled, biocompatible tissue adhesive. We explain how preservation of natural tissue amines provides biocompatibility for PEG/dextran that exceeds the stringent, destructive cyanide-based chemistry of cyanoacrylates, and adhere far better than fibrin glue. Strategic variations of material composition allow for the improvement of biocompatibility and adhesion strength.

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.