A suture-free, shape self-adaptive and bioactive PEG-Lysozyme implant for Corneal stroma defect repair and rapid vision restoration

Hang Zhou; Shaohua Zhang; Miao Lei; Yixin Cai; Honglei Wang; Jianguo Sun; Jingyuan Cui; Changsheng Liu; Xue Qu

Bioactive Materials (Nov 2023)

A suture-free, shape self-adaptive and bioactive PEG-Lysozyme implant for Corneal stroma defect repair and rapid vision restoration

Hang Zhou,
Shaohua Zhang,
Miao Lei,
Yixin Cai,
Honglei Wang,
Jianguo Sun,
Jingyuan Cui,
Changsheng Liu,
Xue Qu

Affiliations

Hang Zhou: Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Material Science and Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
Shaohua Zhang: Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China
Miao Lei: Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Material Science and Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
Yixin Cai: Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Material Science and Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
Honglei Wang: Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Material Science and Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
Jianguo Sun: Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, NHC Key Laboratory of Myopia (Fudan University), Key Laboratory of Myopia, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Visual Impairment and Restoration, Eye & ENT Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, China; Corresponding author.
Jingyuan Cui: Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Material Science and Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China; Wenzhou Institute of Shanghai University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
Changsheng Liu: Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Material Science and Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
Xue Qu: Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Material Science and Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China; Wenzhou Institute of Shanghai University, Wenzhou, 325000, China; Shanghai Frontier Science Center of Optogenetic Techniques for Cell Metabolism, Shanghai, 200237, China; Corresponding author. Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Material Science and Engineering, Frontiers Science Center for Materiobiology and Dynamic Chemistry, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 29
pp. 1 – 15

Abstract

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Corneal transplantation is a prevailing treatment to repair injured cornea and restore vision but faces the limitation of donor tissue shortage clinically. In addition, suturing-needed transplantation potentially causes postoperative complications. Herein, we design a PEG-Lysozyme injective hydrogel as a suture-free, shape self-adaptive, bioactive implant for corneal stroma defect repair. This implant experiences a sol-gel phase transition via an in situ amidation reaction between 4-arm-PEG-NHS and lysozyme. The physicochemical properties of PEG-Lysozyme can be tuned by the components ratio, which confers the implant mimetic corneal modulus and provides tissue adhesion to endure increased intraocular pressure. In vitro tests prove that the implant is beneficial to Human corneal epithelial cells growth and migration due to the bioactivity of lysozyme. Rabbit lamellar keratoplasty experiment demonstrates that the hydrogel can be filled into defect to form a shape-adaptive implant adhered to native stroma. The implant promotes epithelialization and stroma integrity, recovering the topology of injured cornea to normal. A newly established animal forging behavior test prove a rapid visual restoration of rabbits when use implant in a suture free manner. In general, this work provides a promising preclinical practice by applicating a self-curing, shape self-adaptive and bioactive PEG-Lysozyme implant for suture-free stroma repair.

Published in Bioactive Materials

ISSN: 2452-199X (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials; Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/bioactive-materials/

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