CL-EVLPs Promote Corneal Repair in a BAC-Induced Corneal Injury Model via Ocular Microenvironment Reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Nanomedicine
• Plant-derived biologics

Background:

• Ocular surface disorders, such as dry eye, pose significant challenges to eye health.
• Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is a common agent used to induce experimental corneal injury models.
• Developing effective and safe therapeutic strategies for corneal regeneration is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the therapeutic potential of Curcuma longa-derived extracellular vesicle-like particles (CL-EVLPs) in a BAC-induced corneal injury model.
• To assess the efficacy of CL-EVLPs in promoting corneal epithelial repair and neural regeneration.
• To explore the underlying mechanisms of CL-EVLP action in restoring ocular surface homeostasis.

Main Methods:

• CL-EVLPs were isolated and characterized.
• A murine dry eye model was induced using topical BAC application.
• Corneal injury and repair were evaluated through clinical scoring, histopathology, proteomic analysis, Western blotting, and qPCR.

Main Results:

• CL-EVLPs demonstrated significant acceleration of corneal epithelial repair and enhanced nerve regeneration.
• Treatment with CL-EVLPs reduced pathological neovascularization and suppressed inflammatory responses.
• Proteomic analysis indicated CL-EVLPs modulate pathways involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune regulation, including upregulation of keratin 12 and downregulation of keratin 10, VEGFA, MMP9, IL-1β, S100A8/A9, and NF-κB, while increasing Nrf2.

Conclusions:

• CL-EVLPs are a novel natural nanobiologic that effectively restores ocular surface homeostasis.
• CL-EVLPs enhance corneal epithelial regeneration and neural repair in the ocular surface microenvironment.
• Plant-derived EVLPs offer a foundation for developing safer and more economical therapeutic strategies for ocular surface disorders.