Methods and polymer compositions for treating retinal detachment and other ocular disorders

1. A method of contacting and supporting retinal tissue in an eye of a subject having undergone a vitrectomy for repair of a retinal detachment or macular hole, the method comprising:

a. injecting into the vitreous cavity of the eye of the subject having undergone a vitrectomy for repair of a retinal detachment or macular hole an effective amount of a nucleo-functional polymer and an electro-functional polymer; and

b. allowing the nucleo-functional polymer and the electro-functional polymer to react to form a hydrogel in the vitreous cavity, which hydrogel contacts and supports the retinal tissue in the eye, thereby providing a retinal tamponade;

 wherein the nucleo-functional polymer is a biocompatible polymer comprising poly(vinyl alcohol) containing a plurality of thio-functional groups —R 1 —SH, wherein le is an ester-containing linker, and the electro-functional polymer is a biocompatible polymer comprising poly(ethylene glycol) containing at least one thiol-reactive group.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the retinal tissue is contacted and supported in the eye of a subject having undergone a vitrectomy for repair of a retinal detachment, and wherein the subject has a physical discontinuity in the retinal tissue, a tear in the retinal tissue, a break in the retinal tissue, or a hole in the retinal tissue.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleo-functional polymer and the electro-functional polymer are injected separately as liquid aqueous pharmaceutical compositions or together as a single, liquid aqueous pharmaceutical composition to the vitreous cavity of the eye of the subject.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the separate liquid aqueous pharmaceutical compositions or single liquid aqueous pharmaceutical composition has a pH in the range of about 7.2 to about 7.6.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel has a refractive index in the range of from about 1.2 to about 1.5.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel has a transparency of at least 95% for light in the visible spectrum when measured through hydrogel having a thickness of 2 cm.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel has a gelation time of less than about 10 minutes.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel undergoes complete biodegradation from the eye of the subject within about 3 days to about 7 days, about 2 weeks to about 8 weeks, or about 4 months to about 6 months, or within 12 months or 24 months.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel has a biodegradation half-life in the range of from about 1 week to about 3 weeks or from about 8 weeks to about 15 weeks when disposed within the vitreous cavity of an eye.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel generates a pressure within the eye of less than 25 mmHg.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleo-functional polymer has a weight-average molecular weight in the range of from about 500 g/mol to about 1,000,000 g/mol; and

wherein the electro-functional polymer has a weight-average molecular weight in the range of from about 500 g/mol to about 1,000,000 g/mol.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mole ratio of (i) thio-functional groups —R 1 —SH to (ii) the at least one thiol-reactive group is in the range of 10:1 to 1:10, 5:1 to 1:1, or 2:1 to 1:1.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 1 —nSH is —OC(O)—(Ci 1 -C 6 alkylene)-SH.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the poly(ethylene glycol) is linear, branched, a dendrimer, or multi-armed.