Evaluation of Novel Porcine Atelocollagen Vitrigel Membrane with Curvature as Corneal Endothelial Cell Carrier

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the newly invented porcine atelocollagen vitrigel membrane (Vitrigel) as a corneal endothelial cell carrier for corneal transplants.

Methods: We implanted flat Vitrigel sheets into rabbit corneas by three methods; on the front surface, in the mid stroma and onto the back of corneas, in order to see the biocompatibility and the transparency of Vitrigel (n=6). Postoperative evaluation was done by slit lamp examination and photographs were taken at 1 month and 4 months later. Hematoxilin and Eosin Staining was done at postoperative month 4. Curved Vitrigel was implanted onto the posterior surface of rabbit cornea comparing to flat Vitrigel in order to see whether it fits to the curvature of the cornea(n=4). Cell culturing methods on curved Vitrigel sheet were also determined using immortal human corneal endothelial cells.

Results: Vitrigel kept its transparency and there was no obvious precipitates and inflammation in rabbit eyes during whole observation period. While flat Vitrigel did not fit to the corneal curvature, curved Vitrigel (radius of curvature 10mm, diameter 6 mm) attached to the posterior surface of corneas. We successfully cultivated human corneal endothelial cells on the curved Vitrigel sheet with cell count 3100 cells/mm² by a method which utilizes 12 well plate and Teflon O-ring.

Conclusions: We invented novel porcine atelocollagen vitrigel membrane with curvature, which was biocompatible and transparent in rabbit eyes. Also a culturing method of human corneal endothelial cells on curved Vitrigel was developed.

Keywords: 481 cornea: endothelium