Intravitreal biocompatibility of mussel adhesive protein. A preliminary study.

Mussel adhesive protein (MAP) is a new tissue adhesive derived from the sea mussel Mytilus edulis. Rabbit eyes were injected intravitreally with 1 mg of MAP or balanced salt solution in order to determine the intraocular effects of this new biologic tissue adhesive. Two concentrations of MAP were used: one was undiluted and the other was diluted to a concentration of 1:10. A marked cellular inflammatory response, compared with the control eyes, was seen clinically in the vitreous cavity of animals in which MAP was used undiluted. This response persisted for up to two weeks and was suggestive of inflammatory response to a foreign protein. When MAP was used at a dilution of 1:10, a mild transient cellular reaction was observed in the vitreous; this cleared after seven days. There was no increase in intraocular pressure, and none of the eyes developed cataract or optic nerve damage. Fluorescein angiography demonstrated no vascular leakage and electroretinography was normal in all of the eyes at two weeks. Histopathologic evaluation of the eyes at 7 and 14 days after injection revealed localized cellular inflammation in the vitreous and adjacent retina when MAP was used undiluted, but no reaction in the control eyes or in eyes injected with MAP at 1:10 dilution. This preliminary study suggests that MAP produces a marked intraocular inflammatory reaction when used at full concentration. By diluting the adhesive, a less severe inflammatory response was observed, which cleared with no complications.