NANO-BIOADHESIVE OPTICAL EYE LENS FOR CORNEAL PERFORATION

Reliable closure of the cornea wounds after trauma or disease as well as incisions for cataract, LASIK, corneal transplant, and other ophthalmic surgeries needs special care and immediate treatment, yet remains one of the key... [ view full abstract ]

Reliable closure of the cornea wounds after trauma or disease as well as incisions for cataract, LASIK, corneal transplant, and other ophthalmic surgeries needs special care and immediate treatment, yet remains one of the key challenges of the clinical medicine. This originates from the crucial role of the corneal structure and curvature in the eye’s overall function, as the improper adjusting of the wound edges during the healing causes astigmatism. Moreover, the inflammation of the cornea can lead to vascularization and reduce the transparency of the tissues and patient’s visual acuity.
Herein, we synthesized a Nano-bioadhesive lens which not only circumvents such shortcomings, but also (i) rapidly and strongly adheres to the moist corneal surface, and seals the wound; (ii) have biomechanical properties (rigidity and elasticity) similar to the cornea; (iii) be bioabsorbed in the wound on a time scale proportional to the tissues regeneration and (iv) provide a microbial barrier.
Inspired by the gelatin-based hydrogels which have been successfully used in many biomedical applications, we synthesized and systematically optimized a gelatin-based bioadhesive, which can meet mechanical and adhesion properties of the corneal wound adhesive; assessed its degradation, retention and biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo (using the corneal injury model in rabbits); evaluated the capacity of the corneal cells to integrate into produced gel to permit tissue regeneration; and covalently integrated antibacterial and antifungal drugs into the gel, and subsequently assessed their antimicrobial effects both in vitro and in vivo.
These data suggest that NANO-BIOADHESIVE lenses could be useful for creating complex, cell-responsive microtissues, such as endothelialized microvasculature, or for other applications that require cell-responsive micro-engineered hydrogels.