title: Collagen gel for ocular surface.
abstract: A replacement ocular surface requires a substrate that is easily manipulated surgically, does not cause an inflammatory reaction, and is nontoxic to epithelial cells. This work evaluates the usefulness of a collagen gel as a substrate for corneal epithelial cells by determining the ocular toxicity of the gel and the ability of the gel to support and maintain corneal epithelial cells in vitro. Collagen gels, made from Vitrogen, were easily manipulated and were well-tolerated in rabbit eyes for up to 6 wk (n = 3). Epithelial sheets placed on collagen gels and incubated at 37 degrees C for up to 13 days remained well-apposed to the gels and appeared normal, but thinned, from five to three layers. The basal cells extended cytoplasmic blebs into the gels, but only one sheet of five sheets showed basement membrane deposition by 6-13 days. Thus, the collagen gels appear to meet the criteria defined above and may be a suitable substrate in biofabricated ocular surfaces.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D003315:Cornea / Q000166:cytology; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000637:transplantation; D005782:Gels; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005782:Gels; D003094:Collagen