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Granular polyrotaxane microgels as injectable hydrogels for corneal tissue regeneration
Antonio J Feliciano1, Yousra Alaoui Selsouli2, Pamela Habibovic2
1Department of Complex Tissue Regeneration, Maastricht University, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht, the Netherlands. m.baker@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Biomaterials Science
|August 22, 2024
Summary
Granular polyrotaxane (GPR) hydrogels show promise for corneal tissue regeneration. These injectable biomaterials enhance cell integration, potentially overcoming challenges in corneal transplantation and restoring vision.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Ophthalmology
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Corneal diseases cause significant vision loss globally.
- Limited donor tissue and transplant rejection hinder corneal regeneration treatments.
- Existing hydrogel scaffolds face challenges with cellular and tissue integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate granular polyrotaxane (GPR) hydrogels for corneal keratocyte growth and transparent tissue generation.
- To create injectable, cytocompatible hydrogels using host-guest supramolecular interactions.
- To optimize hydrogel properties for enhanced corneal tissue regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of injectable, cytocompatible GPR hydrogels via host-guest supramolecular interactions.
- Optimization of cyclodextrin (CD) concentrations in thiol-ene crosslinked PEG microgels.
- Assessment of mechanical properties, thermoresponsiveness, injectability, and cellular integration with corneal keratocytes.
- Evaluation of tissue-like structure formation in vitro.
Main Results:
- Optimized GPR hydrogels exhibited improved mechanical properties and thermoresponsiveness while maintaining injectability.
- The hydrogels facilitated enhanced cellular integration with corneal keratocytes.
- The microgels supported the formation of tissue-like structures in culture.
- GPR hydrogels demonstrated adaptability for defect filling, 3D printing, and tissue culture.
Conclusions:
- GPR hydrogels represent a promising, minimally invasive approach for corneal tissue regeneration.
- These biomaterials have the potential to address limitations in current corneal transplantation methods.
- The developed hydrogels could lead to improved clinical outcomes and vision restoration for patients with corneal diseases.
