Development of biocompatible carbon fibers from hydrated cellulose for the treatment of glaucoma

A method for the preparation of carbon fiber for drainage under surgical treatment for glaucoma was developed. The carbon fiber was obtained from hydrated cellulose. In the process of the production of carbon fiber, viscose thread underwent thermal stabilization at 270°C, carbonization at 600°C, and graphitization at 1200, 1400, and 2400°C. After graphitization, the fiber underwent surface activation in a flow of atmospheric oxygen for 1 h at a temperature of 600°C or in a flow of carbon dioxide at 900°C, which caused an increase in the sorption capacity and specific surface area of the fiber by a factor of hundreds. The physicochemical properties of the carbon fiber were determined, and the electron-microscopic studies of the cross section of a fiber 7.9 μm in diameter were performed at magnifications of 10 000, 30 000, and 50 000.