Figure 5.
Enzymatic degradation of the polyanionic GAGs HA and HS in ovine vitreous increases particle mobility. (a) The mobile fraction (Dapp > 10% of Dfree) of amine-terminated (NH2) 200 nm polystyrene particles after 72 h GAG digestion in ovine vitreous humor is compared to the mobile fraction of those particles in undigested vitreous. The control samples have been incubated in digestion buffer without enzymes. More than 1000 particle trajectories were analyzed per experimental condition and categorized into mobile and immobile particle fractions. The error bars denote the standard deviation for those fractions as obtained from at least three vitreous samples. (b and c) The concentration of HA and HS in fresh, untreated vitreous, as well as digested samples and control samples, was determined via competitive ELISA. Please note the different y-axis scaling for HA and HS. Asterisks denote statistically significant differences (∗∗p < 0.01; ∗∗∗p < 0.001). To see this figure in color, go online.