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Updated: Sep 18, 2025
The Synthesis of RGD-functionalized Hydrogels as a Tool for Therapeutic Applications
Published on: October 7, 2016
A Bioadhesive Functional Peptide-Derived Supramolecular Hydrogel for the Promotion of Corneal Re-Epithelization
Lei Lei1, Jia Liu1, Yueting Shi1
1National Engineering Research Center of Ophthalmology and Optometry, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry & Biomedical Engineering, Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, 270 Xueyuan Road, Wenzhou 325027, China.
Abstract:
The rapid corneal re-epithelization after injury is crucial for maintaining corneal homeostasis and barrier function. This study reports a bioadhesive functional peptide-derived supramolecular hydrogel (FBA-FFGGRGD) for promoting corneal re-epithelization. The aldehyde-modified bioactive peptide (RGD) endows the hydrogel with bioadhesive properties, enabling covalent anchoring to corneal basement membrane proteins via Schiff base reaction. Compared with its analogue (TA-FFGGRGD), FBA-FFGGRGD significantly enhances adhesion, migration, and proliferation of human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs), doubling cell numbers within 48 h and upregulating zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) expression. In vivo studies show that the hydrogel exhibits excellent ocular biocompatibility, prolongs precorneal retention (∼40 min), and promotes stratified epithelium formation in a rabbit model of corneal injury. By remodeling the epithelial barrier, this bioadhesive hydrogel provides a promising strategy for corneal homeostasis preservation and ocular disorder prevention.
