A Light-Curable and Tunable Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel for In Situ Suture-Free Corneal Repair.

ABSTRACT: Corneal injuries are a major cause of blindness worldwide. To restore corneal integrity and clarity, there is a need for regenerative bio-integrating materials for in-situ repair and replacement of corneal tissue. Here, we introduce Light-curable COrnea Matrix (LC-COMatrix), a tunable material derived from decellularized porcine cornea extracellular matrix containing un-denatured collagen and sulfated glycosaminoglycans. It is a functionalized hydrogel with proper swelling behavior, biodegradation, and viscosity that can be cross-linked in situ with visible light, providing significantly enhanced biomechanical strength, stability, and adhesiveness. Cross-linked LC-COMatrix strongly adheres to human corneas ex vivo and effectively closes full-thickness corneal perforations with tissue loss.

SUBMITTER: Yazdanpanah G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9187264 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature