Content area
Pathophysiologic inflammation, e.g., from HSV-1 viral infection, can cause tissue destruction resulting in ulceration, perforation, and ultimately blindness. We developed an injectable Cornea-in-a-Syringe (CIS) sealant-filler to treat damaged corneas. CIS comprises linear carboxylated polymers of inflammation-suppressing 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine, regeneration-promoting collagen-like peptide, and adhesive collagen-citrate glue. We also incorporated GF19, a modified anti-viral host defense peptide that blocked HSV-1 activity in vitro when released from silica nanoparticles (SiNP-GF19). CIS alone suppressed inflammation when tested in a surgically perforated and HSV-1-infected rabbit corneal model, allowing tissue and nerve regeneration. However, at six months post-operation, only regenerated neocorneas previously treated with CIS with SiNP-GF19 had structural and functional features approaching those of normal healthy corneas and were HSV-1 virus-free. We showed that composite injectable biomaterials can be designed to allow regeneration by modulating inflammation and blocking viral activity in an infected tissue. Future iterations could be optimized for clinical application.
Details
; Edin, Elle 4 ; Aghajanzadeh-Kiyaseh, Mozhgan 4 ; Zamani-Roudbaraki, Mostafa 4
; Asoklis, Rimvydas 5 ; Alksne, Milda 1 ; Thathapudi, Neethi C. 4 ; Poudel, Bijay K. 4 ; Rinkunaite, Ieva 1 ; Asoklis, Kasparas 1 ; Iesmantaite, Monika 1 ; Ortega-Llamas, Laura 3 ; Makselis, Almantas 5 ; Munoz, Marcelo 6 ; Baltriukiene, Daiva 1 ; Bukelskiene, Virginija 1 ; Gómez-Laguna, Jaime 2
; González-Andrades, Miguel 3 ; Griffith, May 4
1 Vilnius University, Department of Biological Models, Institute of Biochemistry, Life Sciences Center, Vilnius, Lithuania (GRID:grid.6441.7) (ISNI:0000 0001 2243 2806)
2 University of Córdoba, International Excellence Agrifood Campus ‘CeiA3’, Department of Anatomy and Comparative Pathology and Toxicology, Pathology and Immunology Group (UCO-PIG), UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Córdoba, Spain (GRID:grid.411901.c) (ISNI:0000 0001 2183 9102)
3 Reina Sofia University Hospital and University of Cordoba, Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), Department of Ophthalmology, Cordoba, Spain (GRID:grid.411901.c) (ISNI:0000 0001 2183 9102)
4 University of Montreal, Department of Ophthalmology and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Montrea, Canada (GRID:grid.14848.31) (ISNI:0000 0001 2104 2136); Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Canada (GRID:grid.414216.4) (ISNI:0000 0001 0742 1666)
5 Vilnius University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Vilnius, Lithuania (GRID:grid.426597.b) (ISNI:0000 0004 0567 3159)
6 University of Ottawa, Heart Institute, Ottawa, Canada (GRID:grid.28046.38) (ISNI:0000 0001 2182 2255)