Glaucoma treatment involves reducing the intraocular pressure (IOP), which can damage the optic nerve, to a normal range. Aqueous drainage devices may be used for treatment, and a variety of devices have been proposed. However, they have a non-variable and uniform inner diameter, which makes it difficult to accommodate the IOP fluctuations that occur after glaucoma surgery. To ensure effective treatment in the early post-operative period with low IOP and the late post-operative period with high IOP, the inner diameter should be expandable over time to allow for smooth aqueous drainage. Here, we applied 3D printing technology with a tri-axial nozzle to develop an aqueous drainage tube that can expand its inner diameter. The distinct bilayer structure of the device allows it to expand its inner diameter through biodegradation, which can accommodate the IOP fluctuations that often occur after glaucoma surgery. The fabricated structure was evaluated in a series of tests, including leakage, cytotoxicity, and degradation experiments. The device did not show any leakage, was not toxic to cells, and demonstrated the expansion of the inner diameter through biodegradation. The device may provide a more effective post-operative solution for glaucoma patients by alleviating the effects of low IOP in the early post-operative period and high IOP in the late post-operative period.

Peripheral nerve adhesion after surgical injury severely hinders functional nerve regeneration, leading to pain and neurological dysfunction. In this study, we developed a photocrosslinkable methacrylated gelatin (GelMA)-based hydrogel membrane that locally releases dexamethasone to simultaneously prevent adhesion and suppress inflammation. GelMA, synthesized by reacting gelatin with methacrylic anhydride, formed a stable crosslinked network, as confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and rheological analysis. Cytocompatibility assays showed that both GelMA and Dexa-GelMA hydrogels were non-cytotoxic to neuronal and fibroblast cell lines. In a Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat sciatic nerve injury model, implantation of the Dexa-GelMA hydrogel significantly reduced perineural adhesion and inflammation compared with the untreated control. Western blot analysis showed an approximately 80% reduction in ED-1 expression, indicating suppression of macrophage activation. Overall, the Dexa-GelMA hydrogel provides a biocompatible, multifunctional platform that integrates physical barrier function with anti-inflammatory drug delivery, showing strong potential for preventing postoperative nerve adhesion and modulating early inflammatory responses in a peripheral nerve injury model.