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Highly elastic epoxy cross‐linked collagen hydrogels for corneal tissue engineering
Author(s) -
RAFAT M,
KOH LB,
ISLAM MM,
LIEDBERG BO,
GRIFFITH M
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.2231.x
Subject(s) - self healing hydrogels , decellularization , biocompatibility , extracellular matrix , tissue engineering , adhesive , epoxy , stromal cell , materials science , biomedical engineering , chemistry , biophysics , nanotechnology , polymer chemistry , composite material , biochemistry , pathology , medicine , layer (electronics) , biology , metallurgy
Purpose Our objective is to develop novel materials that support the regeneration of diseased or damaged corneas. Despite the promising clinical results that we previously reported on biosynthetic corneas, more robust and elastic materials are required to withstand the adverse host conditions faced for high risk transplantation in severely damaged or diseased corneas. This presentation will provide details on an epoxy cross‐linked collagen‐based scaffold with enhanced mechanical properties. Methods We have developed a range of collagen‐based materials as mimics of the cell‐free corneal stromal extracellular matrix. In this study, cross‐linked polymer networks of collagen hydrogels were prepared using a hybrid of 1,4‐butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDGE) and carbodiimides (e.g. EDC‐NHS) as cross‐linkers. Briefly, 10w/w% porcine collagen type I was mixed in a T‐piece system at various compositions and pH, e.g. pH 5, pH 11, and incorporated with laminin adhesive peptides (YIGSR, and IKVAV). Promising material formulations were tested for their physiochemical properties (e.g. mechanical, optical, water uptake, FTIR, and thermal degradation) and physiological properties (e.g. interactions with corneal cells, and biodegradation). Results The hybrid BDDGE hydrogels demonstrated improved mechanical properties and degree of cross‐linking while maintaining their optical clarity and biocompatibility compared to controls (e.g. EDC/NHS‐crosslinked hydrogels). Incorporation of laminin‐derived cell‐adhesive peptide (IKVAV) demonstrated significant increase in corneal cells (HCECs) proliferation compared to controls. Conclusion The hybrid BDDGE‐crosslinked collagen‐based hydrogels have the potential for use as tissue‐engineered corneal substitutes.