Issue 9, 2024

ECM-based bioadhesive hydrogel for sutureless repair of deep anterior corneal defects

Abstract

Corneal transplantation is the gold standard treatment for corneal-related blindness; however, this strategy faces challenges such as limited donor cornea, graft rejection, suture-related complications, and the need for specialized equipment and advanced surgical skills. Development of tissue adhesives for corneal regeneration is of great clinical value. However, currently available corneal tissue sealants pose challenges, such as lack of safety, biocompatibility, and desired mechanical properties. To meet these requirements simultaneously, a bovine stromal corneal extracellular matrix (dCor) was used to design a bioadhesive photocurable hydrogel based on gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels (dCor/Gel-PEG). Integration of dCor into the dual networks of GelMA and PEGDA (Gel-PEG) led to a bioadhesive hydrogel for curing corneal defects, which could be crosslinked by Irgacure 2959 within 5 min ultraviolet irradiation. The viability of corneal stromal stem cells (CSSCs) was improved on the dCor/Gel-PEG hydrogel in comparison to the Gel-PEG hydrogel. The gene expression profile supported the keratocyte differentiation of CSSCs seeded on dCor/Gel-PEG via increased KERA and ALDH, with inhibited myofibroblast transdifferentiation via decreased α-SMA due to the presence of dCor. Interestingly, the dCor/Gel-PEG hydrogel exhibited favorable mechanical performance in terms of elasticity and bioadherence to the host corneal stroma. Ex vivo and in vivo examinations proved the feasibility of this hydrogel for the sutureless reconstruction of deep anterior corneal defects with promising histopathological results.

Graphical abstract: ECM-based bioadhesive hydrogel for sutureless repair of deep anterior corneal defects

Associated articles

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
23 Jan 2024
Accepted
12 Mar 2024
First published
13 Mar 2024

Biomater. Sci., 2024,12, 2356-2368

ECM-based bioadhesive hydrogel for sutureless repair of deep anterior corneal defects

S. Borouman, F. Sigaroodi, S. M. Ahmadi Tafti, K. Khoshmaram, M. Soleimani and M. Khani, Biomater. Sci., 2024, 12, 2356 DOI: 10.1039/D4BM00129J

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