UCLA

Current treatments for retinal detachment create scar tissue that subjects the surrounding tissue to mechanical strains leading to re-detachment. A novel PEG-based adhesive polymer, developed by Medicus Biosciences, aims to re-attach the retina, preventing the complications of current treatments. To avoid additional mechanical strains upon the surrounding tissue, the mechanical properties of the polymer must be similar to those of the healthy retina. A comparative evaluation of the mechanical properties of the Medicus Polymer to that of healthy intact retinal tissue in intact harvested porcine eyes by static and dynamic testing was done. Results reveal similar yield and failure strengths, as well as resilience, but the Medicus polymer (2160 ± 923 kPa) is stiffer than the intact retina (278 ± 158 kPa). The dynamic testing gave a contradictory result with the intact retina's modulus at 116 ± 72.7 kPa compared to 54.5 ± 25.2 kPa of the polymer sealed retina.