@article{discovery10155898,
            year = {2023},
          volume = {51},
          number = {1},
           title = {An in vitro assessment of the thermoreversible PLGA-PEG-PLGA copolymer: Implications for Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty},
            note = {This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.},
       publisher = {Wiley},
           month = {January},
         journal = {Clinical \& Experimental Ophthalmology},
           pages = {58--66},
        keywords = {Descemet's membrane, endothelial keratoplastybiodegradable polymers, endothelial keratoplasty, endothelium, thermoreversible},
        abstract = {Background
To explore the use of a thermoreversible copolymer gel coating to prevent donor tissue scrolling in Descemet's membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK).

Methods
PLGA-PEG-PLGA triblock copolymer was synthesised via ring opening polymerisation. Two formulations were fabricated and gelation properties characterised using rheological analyses. Endothelial cytotoxicity of the copolymer was assessed using a Trypan Blue exclusion assay. Thickness of the copolymer gel coating on the endothelial surface was analysed using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) (RTVue-100, Optovue Inc.). Gold nanoparticles were added to the copolymer to aid visualisation using OCT. Prevention of Descemet membrane donor scrolling was represented via a novel, in vitro, immersion of copolymer coated donor graft material.

Results
Two different formulations of PLGA-PEG-PLGA copolymer were successfully fabricated and the desired peak gelling temperature of 24oC was achieved by polymer blending. Application of 20\%, 30\% and 40\% (wt/vol) polymer concentrations resulted in a statistically significant increase in polymer thickness on the endothelium (pā€‰{\ensuremath{<}}ā€‰0.001). There was no detectable endothelial cytotoxicity. The polymer was easy to apply to the endothelium and prevented scrolling of the DMEK graft.

Conclusion
This PLGA-PEG-PLGA thermoreversible copolymer gel could be exploited as a therapeutic aid for preventing DMEK graft scrolling.},
             url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/ceo.14167},
          author = {Tint, Naing L and Cheng, Kelvin and Dhillon, Amritpaul S and Keane, Pearse A and Alexander, Philip and Kennedy, David and Chau, David YS and Rose, Felicity RAJ and Allan, Bruce DS}
}