Biosafety of a 3D printed intraocular lens made of a poly(acrylamide co sodium acrylate) hydrogel in vitro and in vivo

The biosafety of the poly(acrylamide-co-sodium acrylate) hydrogel was first 19 analyzed in vitro using human lens epithelial cells (LECs) and the ARPE19 cell line, and a CCK-8 assay was performed to investigate alterations in cell proliferation. A thin film of a poly(acrylamide-co-sodium acrylate) hydrogel and a conventional IOL were intraocularly implanted into the eyes of New Zealand white rabbits respectively, and a sham surgery served as control group. The anterior segment photographs, intraocular pressure (IOP), blood parameters and electroretinograms were recorded. Inflammatory cytokines in the aqueous humor, such as TNF and IL-8, were examined by ELISA. Cell apoptosis of the retina was investigated by TUNEL assay, and macrophage activation was detected by immunostaining

Curcumin Delays Retinal Degeneration by Regulating Microglia Activation in the Retina of rd1 Mice

Background/Aims: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is characterized by degeneration of photoreceptors, and there are currently no effective treatments for this disease. However, curcumin has shown neuroprotectant efficacy in a RP rat and swine model, and thus, may have neuroprotective effects in this disease. Methods: Immunofluorescence staining, electroretinogram recordings, and behavioral tests were used to analyze the effects of curcumin and the underlying mechanism in retinal degeneration 1 (rd1) mice. Results: The number of apoptotic cells in the retina of rd1 mice at postnatal day 14 significantly decreased with curcumin treatment and visual function was improved. The activation of microglia and secretion of chemokines and matrix metalloproteinases in the retina were inhibited by curcumin. These effects were also observed in a co-culture of BV2 microglial cells and retina-derived 661W cells. Conclusions: Curcumin delayed retinal degeneration by suppressing microglia activation in the retina of rd1 mice. Thus, it may be an effective treatment for neurodegenerative disorders such as RP