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Testing Methods
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In vitro Assays to study protein adsorption on the implant
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Ex vivo Assay to examine chemical uptake behavior at tissue-implant interface
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In vivo inflammatory response
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Tissue cultures to investigate the strength of all cell adhesion to the implant
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Calcein-AM Assay to investigate the strength of living cell adhesion to the implant
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Examination of cellular enzymes in keratocytes and corneal epithelial cells
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Examination of porous invasion of nutrients and cellular ingrowth/proliferation
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Morphological and topographical analysis of cells using SEM
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| Postoperative view of wet model keratoprosthetic implant |
Shortcomings/Failures
- Poor integration between skirt of implant and corneal tissue
- Poor integration between skirt of implant and implant material
- Excessive rigidity of implant in eye
- Invasiveness of surgical implantation and resulting collateral damage
- Lack of epithelialization and vasculature of tissue in contact with and around implant
- Mechanical endurance to in vivo shears, stresses and strains
Current Research: Alternatives and Future Aims
- Improving safety and efficacy of current and future models
- Developing a minimally invasive procedure
- Decreasing implant aptitude for elution, leakage, infection, ulceration, etc.
- Developing an implant with a transparent, flexible optical core
- Developing an implant with a porous skirt with comparable flexibility and chemical structure
- Integrating ultraviolet (UV) radiation filter abilities
- Using newly developed/approved biometals, bioceramics and polymers in skirt and corneal implant
- Topographic and surface modification to increase cell ingrowth
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