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Glaucoma drainage devices are implanted in the eye to treat glaucoma, a disease that can cause vision loss and blindness. These devices are designed to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP), a major risk factor for the progression of glaucoma, by providing an alternative outflow path for the fluid produced by the eye, the aqueous humor. Here, a novel polymeric minimally invasive glaucoma implant designed to enhance aqueous humor outflow is demonstrated. The implant is made of a unique, potentially biodegradable thermoplastic material, polycarbonate bisamide (PC‐BA), and produced through replica molding using hot embossing and femtosecond laser‐machined glass molds. Post‐mortem experiments demonstrate successful device implantation into a rabbit's eye, with the implant remaining securely in place. Although the mass loss and changes in molecular weight observed in the in vitro degradation experiments are not significant within the tested times and degradation conditions, the PC‐BA is a slow‐degradation polymer that may take a few years to fully degrade. Thus, the implant will also slowly degrade and be absorbed by the body over time, leaving behind a natural outflow pathway. This potentially biodegradable glaucoma implant may represent a promising new approach for restoring outflow in a more natural way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is often assumed that the viscoelastic properties of dense colloids are determined by the colloid volume fraction, the interaction potential, as well as the particle size distribution and shape. The dependence of the viscoelastic behavior of particle suspensions and gels on these parameters has been widely studied, and is well understood in many cases. In contrast, our knowledge on the influence of microstructure on mechanical and rheological properties, in particular for high solid loading suspensions as used in ceramic processing, is much less developed. This aspect has been the focus of recent experiments, which show that small changes in microstructure can have dramatic effects on the mechanics and dynamics of concentrated colloidal gels. In this article, we attempt to give an overview of the influence of microstructure on the mechanical and rheological properties of colloidal systems. Particular attention is given to colloidal particle gels at high volume fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheological measurements are performed on highly concentrated alumina gels. By using an in situ mechanism based on enzyme-catalyzed internal reactions, we are able to form gels of highly concentrated particles without disturbing the microstructures that develop during the gelation process. These gels are produced by two different destabilization mechanisms: Either the pH of the suspension is shifted toward the isoelectric point (ΔpH method) or the ionic strength of the suspension is increased at a constant pH (ΔI method). The two destabilization mechanisms lead to gels of significantly different microstructures. We find notable differences in the rheological behavior of the two systems, suggesting a bond-bending mechanism for stress transmission in the case of ApH gels and a bond-stretching mechanism in the case of ΔI gels. In addition, for both kinds of gels we compare the in situ properties to those obtained after altering the microstructure by shearing. Results suggest an increase in elastic and yield properties of concentrated particle gels with decreasing homogeneity of their microstructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]