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Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers
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Evaluation of Subretinal Implants Coated with Amorphous Aluminum Oxide and Diamond-like Carbon

Robyn Sweitzer

Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899

Carmen Scholz

Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL 35899, and VA Center for Innovative Visual Rehabilitation, Boston, MAcscholz{at}chemistry.uah.edu

Sandra Montezuma

Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye&Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA

Joseph F. Rizzo, III

Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye&Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA and VA Center for Innovative Visual Rehabilitation, Boston, MA

Retinal prostheses may be used to support patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or retinitis pigmentosa (RP). A hermetic encapsulation of the poly(imide) (PI)-based prosthesis is important in order to prevent the leakage of water and ions into the electric circuitry embedded in the poly(imide) matrix. The deposition of amorphous aluminum oxide (by sputtering) and diamond like carbon (by pulsed laser ablation) were made for applications in retinal prostheses. The thin films obtained were characterized for composition, thickness, adhesion and smoothness by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, profilometry and light microscopy. Biocompatibility was tested in vivo by implanting coated specimen subretinally in the eye of Yucatan pigs. While amorphous aluminum oxide is more readily deposited with sufficient adhesion quality, superior biocompatibility behavior was shown by diamond-like carbon. Amorphous aluminum oxide had more adverse effects and caused more severe damage to the retinal tissue.

Key Words: Rentinal prosthesis • biomaterials • diamond-like carbon • amorphous aluminium oxide

Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, Vol. 21, No. 1, 5-22 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/0883911506060202
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C.-Y. Chen, Qi Long, X.-H. Li, and Jiao Xu
Microwave-assisted Preparation of Magnetic Albumin Microspheres
Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers, September 1, 2008; 23(5): 490 - 500.
[Abstract] [PDF]