Preparation and comparative study of a new porous polyethylene ocular implant using powder printing technology

Abstract

In this study, polyethylene (PE) was fabricated with porosity greater than 60% and 140—830 µm pore sizes which is suitable for fibrovascularization. The process involved three-dimensional printing of PE particles with water soluble adhesive powders followed by two-stepped heat treatment at 145°C with binder leaching between steps. Spherical ocular implants were fabricated by this process that had pore size, shaping and suturing ability comparable to commercially available porous PE (Medpor®), but had lower density, higher porosity, and antibiotic uptake, as well as, more uniform pore interconnectivity and lower needle exertion force for suturing.