NEW BIOKERATOPROSTHETIC COMPLEX BASED ON MODIFIED ALLOGENIC DONOR CORNEAS AND CULTURED POSTNATAL HUMAN SKIN FIBROBLASTS

Abstract

The aim of the study was to develop biokeratoprosthetic complex based on cross-linking modified allogenic donor corneas and cultured postnatal human skin fibroblasts. Cross-linking enhances corneal strength and tole- rance to proteolytic enzymes. Fibroblasts’ proliferation and migration in the intrastromal pocket stimulates fiber syncytium formation and collagen microcarriers integration into the corneal stroma, as well as intercellular ma- trix formation around the prosthetic metallic plate as early as the cocultivation stage. A new biokeratoprosthetic complex has been successfully developed for further in vivo studies.

Keywords

• tissue engineering construct
• keratoprosthetics
• postnatal skin fibroblasts
• corneal collagen crosslinking