Development of Decellularized Cornea by Organic Acid Treatment for Corneal Regeneration

Abstract

This study successfully developed decellularized corneal scaffolds that were prepared by organic acid, which safely exist in animal tissues and plants. The results showed the highly efficient removal of cell debris from porcine corneas, and excellent preservation of optical properties, extracellular matrix (ECM) architecture, and biomolecules. In addition, decellularized corneal scaffolds revealed excellent biocompatibility and recellularization potential <i>in vitro</i>. In an animal model, the transplanted corneas were completely epithelialized, clear, showed no signs of immune response, and effectively supported stromal keratocytes growth. Hence, this could be a promising scaffold material for corneal tissue engineering applications.