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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Combination of Microstereolithography and Electrospinning to Produce Membranes Equipped with Niches for Corneal Regeneration
Published on: September 12, 2014
[Reconstruction of rabbit corneal stroma with skin fibroblasts]
Yan-qing Zhang1, Wen-jie Zhang, Wei Liu
1Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.
Objective:
To explore whether skin fibroblasts could be used as a cell source for reconstruction of the corneal stroma.
Methods:
It was an experimental study. Skin fibroblast cells were isolated from newborn rabbits, cultured and expanded in vitro. Cells were labeled with green fluorescence protein (GFP) gene by retro-viral infection. Fibroblasts at passage 3 were seeded on polyglycolic acid (PGA) non-woven fibers to form a cell-scaffold construct. Constructs were then implanted into the adult rabbit corneal stroma layer after being cultured in vitro for 1 week. Engineered stroma were observed continuously and harvested after 8 weeks of transplantation for gross, histological evaluation and Keratocan examination. PGA alone was used as control.
Results:
The engineered tissue in the cornea became transparent gradually over a period of 8 weeks. Histological analysis showed that engineered stromal lamellar was relatively regular and the orientation of fibers was parallel to the surface of cornea, which is similar to normal cornea. The implanted cells were confirmed by GFP expression under fluorescent microscope, which also express Keratocan. By transmission electron microscopy examination, no significant difference in the diameter of collagen fiber was observed between engineered stroma (33.08 + or - 2.47) nm and normal stroma (t = 1.80, P = 0.0771).
Conclusion:
Skin fibroblast cells could be used as seed cells for reconstruction of the corneal stroma.
