An in vitro study of collagen hydrogel loaded with plasma rich in growth factors for corneal wound healing

Bahareh Pourjabbar1 , Saeed Heidari Keshel1 , Esmaeil Biazar2 , Alireza Baradaran-Rafii3 *

  1. Department of Tissue engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
  2. Department of Biomaterials Engineering, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran.
  3. Ophthalmic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract: Corneal blindness is a main cause of vision loss. It usually arise from chemical or thermal burn, trauma, and pathogens. Collagen due to bio-adhesiveness, low immunogenicity, good biocompatibility, and biodegradability, play an important part in supporting of damaged cornea. Plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) is known to contribute to the re-epithelialization of corneal epithelium and stromal injury repair. The main aim of the study is to design a material with favorable characteristics for dressing and sustain release of factors for improvement injured cornea. Biocompatible collagen hydrogel film containing PRGF due to supporting corneal structure and providing beneficial agents could be applicable for corneal wound healing.

Methods: To reach the requirements of regeneration corneal epithelium, different concentration of collagen were mixed with different percent of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) at room temperature and then PRGF was loaded. Light transmission of hydrogel was measured in the visible spectrum (400-700 nm). The swelling properties of the hydrogel was determined in PBS at 37 °C, pH 7.4. Tensile tests was conducted to determine mechanical strength and biodegradation rate was calculated by collagenase solution at 37 °C. The in vitro cytocompatibility of the hydrogel to human corneal epithelial cells (HCEC) were evaluated and ultimately the release of PRGF from collagen hydrogel was investigated.

Results: Resultant hydrogel film prior to loading PRGF was transparent and after loading PRGF was translucent. The values of up to 140 percent in swelling of collagen hydrogel was observed, favorable mechanical strength was obtained by using content of 1% EDC. Hydrogel film was completely degraded within 2 weeks. The MTT cytotoxicity test showed No cytotoxicity to HCEC. Sustained release of PRGF from hydrogels was observed.

Conclusion: The results obtained in this study suggest that collagen hydrogel film containing PRGF may be effective therapeutic approach for corneal abrasion and burn injuries.





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