Tarsitano Martine, Cristiano Maria Chiara, Fresta Massimo, Paolino Donatella, Rafaniello Concetta
Department of Health Science, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro Campus Universitario-Germaneto, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro Campus Universitario-Germaneto, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Gels. 2022 Jul 10;8(7):431. doi: 10.3390/gels8070431.
For many years, corneal transplantation has been the first-choice treatment for irreversible damage affecting the anterior part of the eye. However, the low number of cornea donors and cases of graft rejection highlighted the need to replace donor corneas with new biomaterials. Tissue engineering plays a fundamental role in achieving this goal through challenging research into a construct that must reflect all the properties of the cornea that are essential to ensure correct vision. In this review, the anatomy and physiology of the cornea are described to point out the main roles of the corneal layers to be compensated and all the requirements expected from the material to be manufactured. Then, a deep investigation of alginate as a suitable alternative to donor tissue was conducted. Thanks to its adaptability, transparency and low immunogenicity, alginate has emerged as a promising candidate for the realization of bioengineered materials for corneal regeneration. Chemical modifications and the blending of alginate with other functional compounds allow the control of its mechanical, degradation and cell-proliferation features, enabling it to go beyond its limits, improving its functionality in the field of corneal tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
多年来，角膜移植一直是治疗影响眼球前部不可逆损伤的首选方法。然而，角膜供体数量少和移植排斥病例突出表明，需要用新型生物材料替代供体角膜。组织工程通过对一种构建体进行具有挑战性的研究，在实现这一目标中发挥着重要作用，这种构建体必须反映角膜的所有特性，而这些特性对于确保正确的视力至关重要。在这篇综述中，描述了角膜的解剖学和生理学，以指出需要补偿的角膜各层的主要作用以及对所制造材料的所有期望要求。然后，对藻酸盐作为供体组织的合适替代品进行了深入研究。由于其适应性、透明度和低免疫原性，藻酸盐已成为实现用于角膜再生的生物工程材料的有希望的候选者。藻酸盐的化学修饰以及与其他功能化合物的混合，可以控制其机械、降解和细胞增殖特性，使其能够突破自身局限，提高其在角膜组织工程和再生医学领域的功能。
