title: A superfusion apparatus for ex vivo human eye irritation investigations.
abstract: A superfusion apparatus (SA) was developed to maintain isolated human corneas ex vivo under conditions which mimic the natural eye environment in vivo, including controlled temperature, tear flow and intraocular pressure. The SA was designed, developed and tested for use in ophthalmic pre-clinical research and to test new pharmaceutical formulations. Corneas undergo an equilibration process in the new physiological environment for one day. The test was then initiated by the application of the test substance, incubation, and temporal assessment of corneal damage using various parameters. The effects of mild and severe irritant concentrations of NaOH (2% and 8%, respectively) on corneal opacity, swelling and epithelial integrity were studied, and the inflammatory status assessed using F4/80 and MPO as macrophages and neutrophils markers, respectively. The SA was then used to test new artificial tear formulations supplemented with silver ions as an active constituent, showing different degrees of inflammatory responses as indicated by the migration of MPO and F4/80 positive cells towards the epithelium. The human cornea superfusion apparatus was proposed as a model for acute eye irritation research.
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Ocular Physiopathology, The Eye Bank Foundation of Veneto, Via Paccagnella 11, Padiglione Rama, Venice 30174, Italy. Electronic address: hossein.elbadawy@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hossein Mostafa
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Elbadawy
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Ocular Physiopathology, The Eye Bank Foundation of Veneto, Via Paccagnella 11, Padiglione Rama, Venice 30174, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salvalaio
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Ocular Physiopathology, The Eye Bank Foundation of Veneto, Via Paccagnella 11, Padiglione Rama, Venice 30174, Italy.
authors.forename: Mohit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parekh
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Ocular Physiopathology, The Eye Bank Foundation of Veneto, Via Paccagnella 11, Padiglione Rama, Venice 30174, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruzza
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Ocular Physiopathology, The Eye Bank Foundation of Veneto, Via Paccagnella 11, Padiglione Rama, Venice 30174, Italy.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baruzzo
authors.affiliation: The Department of Ophthalmology, Perugia General Hospital, University of Perugia, Perugia 06123, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cagini
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Ocular Physiopathology, The Eye Bank Foundation of Veneto, Via Paccagnella 11, Padiglione Rama, Venice 30174, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ponzin
authors.affiliation: International Centre for Ocular Physiopathology, The Eye Bank Foundation of Veneto, Via Paccagnella 11, Padiglione Rama, Venice 30174, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D002424:Caustics / Q000633:toxicity*; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D003318:Corneal Opacity; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007509:Irritants / Q000633:toxicity*; D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops / Q000633:toxicity; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D012835:Silver Nitrate / Q000633:toxicity; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D002424:Caustics; D007509:Irritants; D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; C036763:monocyte-macrophage differentiation antigen; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D012835:Silver Nitrate; D009195:Peroxidase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: AgNO(3); Alternative method; Cornea; Ex vivo; NaOH