Biocompatible of human acellular cornea matrix

Abstract

AbstractPurpose The aim of this study was to construct a rabbit anterior cornea replacement with an acellular human cornea matrix (AHCM) as a scaffoldMethods Cornea was taken from the enucleated eye from patient with melanoma of choroidea. Before the decellularization process, human corneas were washed 3 times in sterile phosphate buffered saline. To remove the hereditary materials, the cornea discs were immersed in a Triton X 100 solution and Ammonium Hydroxide with a solvent/tissue mass ratio of 20:1 (vol./wt.). AHCMs were transplanted into the right corneas of 9 Chinchilla rabbits. The superficial corneas of the right eye of the rabbits were excised with a 6‐mm punch. AHCM lamellas (150 mm, 6 mm diameter) were made using a microkeratome. AHCM were transplanted and fixed with 10‐0 nylon into rabbit corneas. All rabbits received topical levofloxacin eye. The non‐operated, contralateral eye was used as a positive control. Follow‐up clinical examinations included slit‐lamp examination to assess corneal optical clarity, neo‐vascularization and degradation of grafts. After post‐operative 8 weeks, rabbits were euthanized respectively and the corneal specimens were examined by H&E stainingResults After lamellar implantation of the AHCM, all animals survived without infections or other complications during the follow‐up period. The transplanted AHCM could be recognized in the rabbit corneas at 8 weeks after operation, with no neo‐vascularization and inflammation or any other rejection signs in or around the transplanted disks, as demonstrated by H&E staining. H&E staining showed that the implants were well integrated within the host corneas, with cells infiltrating the transplanted disks.Conclusion Acellular human cornea matrix has a good biocompatible properties after lamellar keratoplasty