Polymeric hydrogels are promising biomaterials to be used as vitreous tamponade in the eye. However, while the clinical need and the required attributes of a vitreous replacement hydrogel are clear, there is a major gap in understanding the various polymer requirements to achieve the "ideal" hydrogel. In this study, we investigated the effect of the polymer molecular weight on polyurethane thermogel properties and found that there is a theoretical minimum number of hydrophobic blocks required for gelation. We then used these polymers as vitreous replacements. We found that there is a preferred molecular weight range, whereby hydrogels with lower molecular weights can cause retinal atrophy and corresponding functional visual loss, while those with higher molecular weights lead to opacity issues. Thermogels in the preferred molecular weight range retained the normal retinal structure and exhibited full visual recovery within 3 months. The effect of the molecular weight was further demonstrated by the effects of postsynthetic autoclaving on the retinal structure and function. The effect of the polymer molecular weight on the functional characteristics of hydrogels demonstrated herein is an important design parameter for polymeric hydrogels for ocular applications.
Keywords: eye; gelation; molecular weight; supramolecular polymeric hydrogel; vitreous tamponade.