New anionic polyelectrolyte hydrogel for corneal surgery.

A new high-water-content (78%) anionic polyelectrolyte hydrogel was obtained by phase inversion (demixion) of a polymer solution containing 9.0% poly(acrylonitrile sodium methallylsulphonate), 85.0% dimethylformamide, and 6.0% saline solution (0.9% NaCl). The hydrogel is permeable to water, saline, urea, creatinine, glucose, human albumin, and saline-dissolved oxygen. Investigation of the interactions between human serum and surfaces prepared with the new yielded hydrogel, compared to serum interaction with silica-free silicone (RTV), regenerated cellulose (Cuprophan), MMA/PVP copolymer (Lidofilcon), PMMA (Perspex), FIFE (Gore-Tex), and poly(acrylonitrile sodium methallylsulphonate) hemodialysis membrane (AN-69), showed the hydrogel and hemodialysis membrane (both prepared with AN-69 copolymer) to be the only materials devoid of complement (C')-activating ability.