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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Biological Compatibility Profile on Biomaterials for Bone Regeneration
Published on: November 16, 2018
[Biocompatibility of a special hydrogel orbital implant (PHEMA and MMA) in rabbits]
Dong-fang Yin1, Yi-fei Huang, Qing-hua He
1Department of Ophthalmology, the General Hospital of PLA, Ophthalmic Center of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China.
Objective:
To investigate the biocompatibility of a hydrogel orbital implant and its rate of vascularization in an experimental study.
Methods:
The implant was made of copolymerization of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and methyl methacrylate (MMA). Thirty-two hydrogel orbital implants were implanted into the right orbit of 32 New Zealand albino rabbits. The rate of vascularization was examined by SPECT, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy.
Results:
Single Positron Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) examination showed that a radiotracer could be found locally concentrated on hydrogel orbital implants in vivo along with time. On light microscopy, implants fibro vascular tissue invade the pores of the hydrogel orbital implant after 2 weeks and gradually invaded the implant deeper and deeper from 4 to 8 weeks, almost all implants were fully vascularized after 12 weeks with a relatively spare inflammatory reaction. Only one case needed additional surgery.
Conclusions:
The hydrogel orbital implant has many advantages, such as well biocompatible, fast vascularization, simple operation and low complication of surgery. It is safe and applicable for clinical use as a new type of orbital implant material.
