title: Use of Fish Scale-Derived BioCornea to Seal Full-Thickness Corneal Perforations in Pig Models.
abstract: The aim of this study was to test the use of BioCornea, a fish scale-derived collagen matrix for sealing full-thickness corneal perforations in mini-pigs. Two series of experiments were carried out in 8 Lan-Yu and 3 Göttingen mini-pigs, respectively. A 2mm central full thickness corneal perforation was made with surgical scissors and 2mm trephines. The perforations were sealed immediately by suturing BioCornea to the wounded cornea. The conditions of each patched cornea were followed-up daily for 3 or 4 days. Status of operated eyes was assessed with slit lamp examination or optical coherence tomography (OCT). Animals were sacrificed after the study period and the corneas operated were fixated for histological examination. Both OCT imaging and handheld slit lamp observations indicated that a stable ocular integrity of the perforated corneas was maintained, showing no leakage of aqueous humor, normal depth of anterior chamber and only mild swelling of the wounded cornea. Hematoxylin and eosin staining of the patched cornea showed no epithelial ingrowths to the perforated wounds and no severe leucocyte infiltration of the stroma. The fish scale-derived BioCornea is capable to seal full-thickness corneal perforation and stabilize the integrity of ocular anterior chamber in pre-clinic mini-pig models. BioCornea seems to be a safe and effective alternative for emergency treatment of corneal perforations.
authors.affiliation: Aeon Astron Europe B.V., Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Shih-Cheng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Niklas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Telinius
authors.affiliation: Body Organ Biomedical Corp., Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Han-Tse
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Body Organ Biomedical Corp., Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Min-Chang
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Body Organ Biomedical Corp., Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Body Organ Biomedical Corp., Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hjortdal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D057112:Corneal Perforation / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005399:Fishes; D008422:Materials Testing; D013552:Swine; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003094:Collagen