Seo Jin Sol, Tumursukh Nomin-Erdene, Choi Joo Hee, Song Youngeun, Jeon Gayeong, Kim Na Eun, Kim Seung Jae, Kim Nahyeon, Song Jeong Eun, Khang Gilson
Department of Bionanotechnology and Bio-Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk 54896, Republic of Korea.
Department of Bionanotechnology and Bio-Convergence Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk 54896, Republic of Korea.
Int J Biol Macromol. 2023 May 1;236:123878. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123878. Epub 2023 Mar 7.
Recently, the number of people suffering from visual loss due to eye diseases is increasing rapidly around the world. However, due to the severe donor shortage and the immune response, corneal replacement is needed. Gellan gum (GG) is biocompatible and widely used for cell delivery or drug delivery, but its strength is not suitable for the corneal substitute. In this study, a GM hydrogel was prepared by blending methacrylated gellan gum with GG (GM) to give suitable mechanical properties to the corneal tissue. In addition, lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (LAP), a crosslinking initiator, was added to the GM hydrogel. After the photo-crosslinking treatment, it was named GM/LAP hydrogel. GM and GM/LAP hydrogels were analyzed for physicochemical properties, mechanical characterization, and transparency tests to confirm their applicability as carriers for corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs). Also, in vitro studies were performed with cell viability tests, cell proliferation tests, cell morphology, cell-matrix remodeling analysis, and gene expression evaluation. The compressive strength of the GM/LAP hydrogel was improved compared to the GM hydrogel. The GM/LAP hydrogel showed excellent cell viability, proliferation, and cornea-specific gene expression than the GM hydrogel. Crosslinking-improved GM/LAP hydrogel can be applied as a promising cell carrier in corneal tissue engineering.
近年来，全球因眼部疾病导致视力丧失的人数正在迅速增加。然而，由于严重的供体短缺和免疫反应，角膜置换成为必要。结冷胶（GG）具有生物相容性，广泛用于细胞递送或药物递送，但其强度不适用于角膜替代物。在本研究中，通过将甲基丙烯酸化结冷胶与GG（GM）混合制备了一种GM水凝胶，以使角膜组织具有合适的机械性能。此外，向GM水凝胶中添加了交联引发剂苯基-2,4,6-三甲基苯甲酰基膦酸锂（LAP）。经过光交联处理后，将其命名为GM/LAP水凝胶。对GM和GM/LAP水凝胶进行了物理化学性质、力学表征和透明度测试，以确认它们作为角膜内皮细胞（CEnCs）载体的适用性。此外，还进行了体外研究，包括细胞活力测试、细胞增殖测试、细胞形态学、细胞-基质重塑分析和基因表达评估。与GM水凝胶相比，GM/LAP水凝胶的抗压强度有所提高。GM/LAP水凝胶比GM水凝胶表现出优异的细胞活力、增殖能力和角膜特异性基因表达。交联改进的GM/LAP水凝胶可作为角膜组织工程中有前景的细胞载体应用。
