title: Bioengineered neo-corneal endothelium using collagen type-I coated silk fibroin film.
abstract: Corneal transplantation, a common surgical protocol for visual acuity improvement, is limited owing to shortage of high quality donor corneas and/or lack of accurate replication of structural and biochemical composition of native cornea in a scaffold. Construction of neo-corneas utilizing novel, biocompatible and biodegradable scaffold/film source, could possibly address such formidable challenges. Herein, we designed optically transparent, micro-structurally stable silk films surface-coated with collagen type-I (Col-I/SF) as an alternative scaffold source for bioengineering of neo-cornea. Morphological, structural characteristics and in vitro biological studies were performed using primary rabbit corneal endothelial cells (rCEnCs) as models. The Col-I/SF films demonstrated higher Ra (nm) values compared to the bare SF surfaces. In vitro biological studies showed a significant increment in initial cell attachment and proliferation of cultured rCEnCs on the Col-I/SF films with well-maintained characteristic polygonal shape of rCEnCs. Although any remarkable changes regarding the morphology, expression of ZO-1 and Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase were absent, however the cells were found to be capable of well-expressing their functional proteins which regulates functions of corneal endothelium. Collectively, these results strongly suggest Col-I/SF film for future corneal transplantation therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of BIN Fusion Technology, Department of PolymerNano Science & Polymer BIN Research Center, Chonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju 561-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of BIN Fusion Technology, Department of PolymerNano Science & Polymer BIN Research Center, Chonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju 561-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Nirmalya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tripathy
authors.affiliation: Department of BIN Fusion Technology, Department of PolymerNano Science & Polymer BIN Research Center, Chonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju 561-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Gangnam St. Mary Hospital, 505 Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Choun-Ki
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of BIN Fusion Technology, Department of PolymerNano Science & Polymer BIN Research Center, Chonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju 561-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dongwon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of BIN Fusion Technology, Department of PolymerNano Science & Polymer BIN Research Center, Chonbuk National University, 567 Baekje-daero, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju 561-756, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: gskhang@jbnu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Gilson
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Khang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000737:chemistry*; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology*; D005349:Fibroins; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D011817:Rabbits; D047011:Silk; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D047011:Silk; D005349:Fibroins
keywords: Bioengineering; Collagen type-I; Film; Neo-corneal endothelium; Silk fibroin