title: Recombinant human collagen for tissue engineered corneal substitutes.
abstract: We successfully fabricated transparent, robust hydrogels as corneal substitutes from concentrated recombinant human type I and type III collagen solutions crosslinked with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). White light transmission through these gels is comparable or superior to that of human corneas. Hydrogels from both type I and type III collagens supported in vitro epithelium and nerve over-growth. While both these biocompatible hydrogels have adequate tensile strength and elasticity for surgical manipulation, type III collagen hydrogels tended to be mechanically superior. Twelve-month post-implantation results of type I recombinant collagen-based corneal substitutes into mini-pigs showed retention of optical clarity, along with regeneration of corneal cells, nerves and tear film. For clinical use, implants based on fully characterized, recombinant human collagen eliminate the risk of pathogen transfer or xenogeneic immuno-responses posed by animal collagens.
authors: Deptartment of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Wenguang
authors: W
authors: Liu
authors: Kimberley
authors: K
authors: Merrett
authors: May
authors: M
authors: Griffith
authors: Per
authors: P
authors: Fagerholm
authors: Subhadra
authors: S
authors: Dravida
authors: Belinda
authors: B
authors: Heyne
authors: Juan C
authors: JC
authors: Scaiano
authors: Mitchell A
authors: MA
authors: Watsky
authors: Naoshi
authors: N
authors: Shinozaki
authors: Neil
authors: N
authors: Lagali
authors: Rejean
authors: R
authors: Munger
authors: Fengfu
authors: F
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D016039:Corneal Transplantation; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D008422:Materials Testing; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012038:Regeneration; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D013816:Thermodynamics; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020100:Hydrogels; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D003094:Collagen