Development of bio-cornea from other sources: Fish scale based
The cornea serves as the primary infective and structural barrier of the eye. It is an exterior, transparent, avascular connective tissue. 3 cellular and 2 interface layers make up the majority of the 5 layers of the human cornea. These layers from the inside out include the epithelium, Bowman’s membrane, stroma, Descemet’s membrane, and endothelium. After cataract illness, corneal disease is the second-leading cause of blindness and bilateral blindness worldwide. The cornea’s capacity for regeneration is constrained by nature.
Currently, these individuals’ only option for regaining their vision is a corneal transplant. Immune rejection is one of the drawbacks of human donor corneas that is overcome by corneal replacements. A keratoplasty is performed using healthy donor tissue, but corneal perforation is quite likely and could result in blindness. The integrity of the globe is restored by penetrating keratoplasty (PK), however there is still a significant risk of endothelial rejection in inflamed eyes.
A different technique for creating artificial cornea from fish scales was created, considering its high biocompatibility and support function. A type I collagen multilayer with a regular orientation, sufficient mechanical strength, transparency, and good biocompatibility makes up a fish scale.
Fresh oreochromis niloticus (tilapia) scales are used during the process. They are cleaned in distilled water, and cellular substances like hydroxyapatite and calcium carbonate are eliminated using a four-step detergent and enzymatic extraction procedure that involves sequential treatments involving soaking the fish scales in sodium hydroxide (NaOH), phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid solution (EDTA) is employed for decalcification.
Nitric acid is used to decalcify the fish scales, whereas acetic acid is utilised to improve pore size and porosity. The resulting acellularized fish scales are thoroughly cleaned and kept in sterile saline phosphate-buffer (PBS).
The fish scales are then decellularized and decalcified, and a laser punch was used to trim them into a precise circle with a predetermined diameter. Following trimming, fish scales were moulded for an appropriate curvature in the presence of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether. The final item obtained is a transparent matrix. The morphological traits of corneal cells cultivated on the acellular decalcified scaffold were examined using scanning electron microscopy.
Although further work needs to be done in this field especially in terms of immunogenicity, the applications of this unique technique is limitless and must be explored further to explore the possibilities and promise that this technique holds.
References:
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1594.2012.01452.x
https://doi.org/10.1155%2F2018%2F8146834
https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.13-11799
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b00562
Author Credits: Laksmi Pillai, BioDimension Technology Pvt. Ltd.
