Abstract
Purpose :
Infections, autoimmune diseases, or chemical/thermal burns can scar the conjunctiva, requiring transplantation. The purpose of this study is to explore the biological potential of metal-organic hybrid films in developing a functional conjunctival equivalent for transplantation.
Methods :
Using a molecular layer deposition (MLD) technique, 7 hybrid films - 4 titanium-based hybrid films (TiO2, Ti-glycine, Ti-aspartic aid, and Ti-glycine-aspartic acid) and 3 zinc-based hybrid films (ZnO, Zn-glycine, Zn-cysteine) - were prepared on a plain glass coverslip. A total of 8 films, including unmodified glass coverslip (NT), were tested for their biocompatibility on the growth and function of human primary conjunctival epithelial cells (HCjECs). The degree of outgrowth was measured by brightfield tile-imaging, proliferation capacity by colorimetric redox indicator resazurin, secretion of MUC5AC by ELISA, and reconstruction of the native state of conjunctival epithelium by immunofluorescence.
Results :
Two types of Ti-based films (titaminates) - TiO2 and TiG – outperformed NT in HCjEC outgrowth. The outgrowth on the other two titaminates - TiD and TiGD - was similar to NT. None of the Zn-based films supported the HCjECs growth. Proliferative capacity and degree of MUC5AC secretion of HCjECs per mm2cell area were similar across the films. TiO2 and TiG were the best to reproduce the native state of the conjunctiva. HCjECs outgrown from forniceal conjunctival tissue explants on these two films showed a similar percentage of goblet, stratified squamous, and undifferentiated cells to the native epithelial cell composition in the forniceal conjunctiva.
Conclusions :
Outperformance of TiO2 and TiG indicates that titanium alone or in combination with glycine has high utility in reproducing the native state of functional conjunctival epithelium. The use of titanium in combination with glycine should be considered when developing a substrate for conjunctival transplantation.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.