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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
An Alkali-burn Injury Model of Corneal Neovascularization in the Mouse
Published on: April 7, 2014
Topically administered gold nanoparticles inhibit experimental corneal neovascularization in mice
Won-Kyung Cho1, Seungbum Kang, Hyunsu Choi
1*Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Daejeon St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, South Korea; and †Clinical Research Institute, Daejeon St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon, South Korea.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo effects and mechanism of topically administered gold nanoparticles (AuNP) in a mouse model of corneal neovascularization.
Methods:
Inflammatory corneal neovascularization was induced by alkali burns, and the corneas were treated with topical AuNPs. After 1 week, the area of corneal neovascularization was measured using image analysis. The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) were evaluated by Western blotting.
Results:
The area of corneal neovascularization was significantly reduced by 39.8% in the AuNP group compared with the control group (P = 0.002). Corneal vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 level was higher in the control group than in the AuNP-treated group (P = 0.029). AuNP treatment similarly inhibited burn-induced phosphorylation of ERK (P = 0.029).
Conclusions:
Topical administration of AuNPs significantly reduced development of inflammatory corneal neovascularization by inhibiting the ERK pathway.
