Scaffold-Free Strategy Using a PEG-Dextran Aqueous Two-Phase-System for Corneal Tissue Repair

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Scaffold-free tissue constructs are crucial for tissue engineering, minimizing extracellular matrix is key.
• Corneal tissue engineering requires efficient methods for fabricating functional corneal constructs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and optimize a rapid fabrication strategy for scaffold-free corneal tissue constructs.
• To utilize an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) for creating corneal tissue.
• To assess the viability, functionality, and potential for corneal repair of the fabricated constructs.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of corneal tissue constructs using the liquid-liquid interface of an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) composed of dextran and polyethylene glycol.
• Assessment of cell viability, proliferation, and expression of physiological markers in the constructs.
• In vitro testing of corneal epithelial cell constructs for wound re-epithelialization.

Main Results:

• Intact, scaffold-free corneal epithelial and endothelial cell constructs were formed within hours at the ATPS interface.
• The constructs exhibited preserved cell viability and proliferative ability in vitro.
• Corneal epithelial cell constructs demonstrated successful in vitro re-epithelialization of corneal wounds.

Conclusions:

• The developed ATPS-based strategy enables rapid fabrication of functional, scaffold-free corneal tissue constructs.
• The constructs possess essential physiological markers and maintain cell viability and proliferative capacity.
• This method holds significant promise for advancing corneal repair strategies.