Membranes based on carboxymethyl chitin as potential scaffolds for corneal endothelial transplantation

作者：Xu, Wenhua; Wang, Zheying; Li, Tong; Wang, Liping; Zhang, Wenhua; Liang, Ye^*; Liu, Chengyu^*

来源：Polymer Journal, 2017, 49(11): 789-798.

DOI：10.1038/pj.2017.50

• TISSUE ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS
• DRUG-DELIVERY
• RABBIT MODEL
• CHITOSAN MICROSPHERES
• CELL TRANSPLANTATION
• HYDROGEL
• SHEET
• BIOCOMPATIBILITY
• CYTOCOMPATIBILITY
• BIOMATERIALS

To overcome the worldwide shortage of donor corneas, transplantation of cultured corneal endothelial cells (CECs) as substitutes has been attempted in experimental studies to treat corneal endothelial dysfunction. In the present study, corneal endothelial scaffolds were prepared using carboxymethyl chitin (CMCT) or carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTS) as the main ingredient and gelatin (gel) at a mass ratio of 20: 1. The transmittances of the membranes were examined at different wavelengths (400, 500, 600, 700 and 800 nm). The cytotoxicity of the blend membranes was evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The properties of both membranes, including biodegradability, immunogenicity and toxicity, were determined by implantation experiments in Sprague-Dawley rats. Then the rabbit primary CECs were implanted onto the blended membranes to evaluate their cytocompatibility. Results indicated that both the CMCT/gel and CMCTS/gel blended membranes exhibited good transparency and cytocompatibility, with relatively low in vivo toxicity. However, the CMCT/gel membranes showed a higher degradation rate and milder immune response in vivo compared with the CMCTS/gel. The degradation time of the CMCT/gel membranes was <8 weeks in the subcutaneous tissues and 4 weeks in the skeletal muscles. Thus the CMCT/gel blended membrane could be a more promising candidate for constructing endothelial scaffold in corneal replacement.

• 出版日期2017-11
• 单位青岛大学