Hydrogel-Mediated Sustained Delivery of Corneal Epithelial Extracellular Vesicles: A Strategy for Enhanced Corneal Regeneration.

ABSTRACT: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from corneal epithelial cells have shown great promise in promoting corneal wound healing and stromal regeneration, but they face challenges with rapid clearance from the eye. This study addresses these challenges by developing a biocompatible collagen-hydrogel sustained delivery system. We successfully isolated, purified, and characterized corneal epithelial EVs (CE-EVs), assessed their efficacy in corneal epithelial healing in vitro, and demonstrated their sustained delivery over 10 days followed by an on-demand release through enzymatic degradation of the hydrogel, which mimics the in vivo scenario. To develop a microscale understanding of the EV diffusion inside the hydrogel matrix, we probed the hydrogel network with several model compounds and nan

SUBMITTER: Rosenquist Lybecker J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12391988 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature