Mechanical and Optical Properties of Reinforced Collagen Membranes for Corneal Regeneration through Polyrotaxane...

Corneal transplantation is the widely accepted treatment to restore sight for corneal blindness. To date, because of the global donor cornea shortage, there is a need for alternatives to human donor corneas. Biocompatible collagen is an excellent candidate material for corneal repair in the view of biomimetics. Herein a class of polyrotaxane multiple aldehyde (PRA) cross-linkers based on the host-guest supramolecules of α-cyclodextrins and poly(ethylene glycol) is prepared to cross-link with collagen to fabricate materials for corneal repair. Aldehyde groups from rotaxanes and α-cyclodextrin units can synergistically improve the mechanical and optical properties of PRA cross-linked collagen membranes (Col-PRAs). Compared with counterparts cross-linked by traditional a cross-linker of 1-ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl) carbodiimide and N-hydroxy-succinimide, Col-PRAs have better mechanical properties, especially suture resistance as well as optical properties. In vivo lamellar keratoplasty results indicate that Col-PRAs not only can bear tight suturing on a rabbit cornea but also are prone to the remodeling of the epithelium and stroma of the cornea due to the outstanding cell adhesion and proliferation. These novel Col-PRAs exhibit great potential for use in the corneal regeneration.