Tissue Adhesive for Repair of Ocular Perforations
Summary
Adhesive biomaterials have risen as a promising approach for treating corneal/scleral stromal loss, particularly in emergencies. Current standards of care for treating corneal stromal defects include cyanoacrylate glue, tissue grafting, or corneal transplantation. Cyanoacrylate adhesives have been an effective therapeutic option in specific ophthalmic settings, however, the limitations of this system include complicated application techniques, limited effectiveness, discomfort, toxicity, and lack of biodegradation. Currently, no available adhesive has been designed for long-term integration with the cornea, even though significant research has been devoted to developing adhesives that can close corneal incisions. For example, ReSure (Ocular Therapeutix Inc.)is the only FDA–approved designed to seal corneal incisions in cataract surgery. However, ReSure cannot fill stromal defects. It also has poor adhesion, especially in wet conditions, and falls off quickly.
Project Goal
Our unique team of researchers and collaborators with combined experiences in the cornea, bioengineering, tissue engineering, and biomaterials proposes synthesizing and optimizing a novel bioadhesive for sutureless repairing corneal lacerations perforations in numerous ophthalmologic areas and emergencies conditions. This multidisciplinary research team will engineer a novel antibacterial, biocompatible transparent glue for the treatment of corneal laceration using a visible light cross-linkable, natural biopolymer. With tunable physical properties that mimicry, the natural cornea structure and biomechanics allow for corneal glue curing precisely according to the required geometry of the defect. In addition, we aim to perform the In vivo experiments using a rabbit stromal defect model, to show the efficiency of bioadhesive to seal the corneal defects and induce stromal regeneration and re-epithelialization, and application of this promising antibacterial and biocompatible bio glue for corneal repair.
Specific Aims
Short-term Aim 1: Synthesis of biocompatible, antibacterial, and transparent bioadhesive, with mechanical stability and appropriate stiffness and more elasticity than corneal tissue to disfavor the formation of astigmatism during healing.
Short-term Aim 2: Optimize the bioadhesive physic-chemical and mechanical properties to mimic the native cornea. (Assessment of the ability of bioadhesive to adhere to the moist corneal surface and seal the wound, also to withstand high intraocular pressures (> 80 mm Hg); and optimize the curing time to rapidly cure to seal the corneal wound in a controlled manner (< 30 s); possess a refractive index matching that of the native cornea (1.42); possess solute diffusion properties favorable for normal corneal healing).
Short-term Aim 3: Assessment of the capability of drug delivery and cell support and endogenous tissue regeneration. Ex vivo tests on explanted rabbit eyes will perform to evaluate the retention and burst pressures. Investigate the proper biodegradation on a time scale consistent with tissue regeneration.
Short-term Aim 4: The in vivo tests were conducted using a rabbit stromal cornea defect model to test the biocompatibility and retention of the biomaterial and the corneal regeneration after bioadhesive application.
Future Course: Perform drug development studies on rabbit models and 3D bioprint corneal models. This bioadhesive is applicable to repair corneal perforations, close the flap produced in a LASIK procedure, and secure a corneal transplant.
Keywords:
- cornea laceration
- corneal emergencies treatment
- corneal perforation
- bioadhesive
Researchers:
- Alireza Ghaffarieh (Author)
- Jeff Wolchok
- Ahmed SAllam