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Mechanical and cellular changes during compaction of a collagen-sponge-based corneal stromal equivalent
Melinda L Borene1, Victor H Barocas, Allison Hubel
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 312 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
Annals of Biomedical Engineering
|March 11, 2004
Summary
Researchers developed a collagen-sponge corneal stromal equivalent using human corneal fibroblasts. This engineered tissue shows promising mechanical properties and cellular behavior, suggesting potential for corneal transplantation.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Declining donor cornea supply necessitates alternatives for transplantation.
- Corneal tissue engineering aims to create functional bioengineered corneas.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a collagen-sponge-based corneal stromal equivalent.
- To evaluate its mechanical properties and cellular behavior in vitro.
Main Methods:
- Culturing human corneal fibroblasts on type I collagen sponges for 21 days.
- Assessing mechanical properties (Young's modulus, permeability).
- Analyzing cellular behavior (cell traction stress) and gene expression (microarray).
Main Results:
- Stromal equivalent exhibited mechanical property changes over 21 days (Young's modulus: 95-370 Pa).
- Cell traction stress decreased during sponge compaction.
- Upregulation of fibronectin, decorin sulfate, collagenase, and gelatinase A indicated fibroblast phenotype expression.
Conclusions:
- The collagen-sponge stromal equivalent demonstrates dynamic mechanical and cellular changes in culture.
- Fibroblasts within the construct express repair and potentially myofibroblast phenotypes.
- This engineered tissue holds potential as a corneal replacement for transplantation.