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

1. A method of forming a hydrogel in an eye of a subject, the method comprising:

a. injecting an effective amount of a nucleo-functional polymer and an electro-functional polymer into the eye; and

b. allowing the nucleo-functional polymer and the electro-functional polymer to react to form a hydrogel in the eye;

wherein the nucleo-functional polymer is a biocompatible polymer comprising poly(vinyl alcohol) containing a plurality of thio-functional groups —R 1 —SH, wherein R 1 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 hydrogel is formed in the vitreous cavity of the eye.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel is formed in the eye of a subject having 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.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel is formed in the eye of a subject having undergone surgery for a macular hole, having undergone surgery to remove at least a portion of a epiretinal membrane, having undergone a vitrectomy, having a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, having tractional retinal detachment, or having serous retinal detachment.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleo-functional polymer and the electro-functional polymer are injected into the eye separately as liquid aqueous compositions or together as a single, liquid aqueous composition.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the nucleo-functional polymer and the electro-functional polymer are injected into the vitreous cavity of the eye.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the separate liquid aqueous compositions or single liquid aqueous composition has a pH in the range of about 7.2 to about 7.6.

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

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel has a transparency of at least 90% for light in the visible spectrum when measured through a hydrogel having a thickness of 2 cm.

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

11. 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.

12. 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 eye.

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

14. 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 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.

15. 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.

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

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

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising injecting a pharmaceutical composition into the eye.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the pharmaceutical composition is injected into the eye together with the nucleo-functional polymer, together with the electro-functional polymer, or together with both the nucleo-functional polymer and the electro-functional polymer.