Therapeutic efficacy of BSA formulated hydrogels in corneal wound healing and epithelial cell regeneration: an ex vivo study
Abstract Corneal injury requires both epithelial regeneration and stromal repair, and formulated biomaterials established to repair damaged corneas can be used in regenerative medicine. The challenge is to ensure that biomaterials can be incorporated into the host tissue and delivered intracellularl...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04408-3 |
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| author | Ramachandran Samivel Mana A. Alanazi Adnan A. Khan Ali M. Masmali Saud A. Alanazi Turki Almubrad Saeed Akhtar |
| author_facet | Ramachandran Samivel Mana A. Alanazi Adnan A. Khan Ali M. Masmali Saud A. Alanazi Turki Almubrad Saeed Akhtar |
| author_sort | Ramachandran Samivel |
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| description | Abstract Corneal injury requires both epithelial regeneration and stromal repair, and formulated biomaterials established to repair damaged corneas can be used in regenerative medicine. The challenge is to ensure that biomaterials can be incorporated into the host tissue and delivered intracellularly without causing rapid material deprivation, thus maintaining corneal transparency. Bovine serum albumin-formulated hydrogels (BHG) were prepared by dissolving with riboflavin, retinoic acid, and 2.5% glutaraldehyde solutions. Periphery-centered wounds from camel corneas (8mm diameter and 250 µm depth) were mounted on a dome-shaped agarose gel in six-well plates containing BHG-supplemented serum-free Medium 199. The plates were then incubated at 37 °C for 24, 48, and 72 h. A complete set of corneoscleral rings was procured and processed for histopathological, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry assays. Histological and electron microscopy results showed that all epithelial layers and anterior stroma developed faster in the BHG-treated wounds than in the untreated wounded corneas. Compared to untreated wounded corneas, BHG-treated corneas accumulated higher levels of fibronectin and ki-67 and lower levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin inductions. BHG-treated corneal wounds healed faster than untreated wounded corneas. Overall, BHG enhances epithelial regeneration and strengthens the stromal architecture by upregulating ECM and growth factors. Hence, BHG is a promising therapeutic hydrogel for wounded corneas, and further studies on corneal stromal wound healing and epithelial cell reimbursement in an in vivo model are required. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
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| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj-art-6b4e23bb14e54138819209d08a91fd142025-08-20T02:30:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-04408-3Therapeutic efficacy of BSA formulated hydrogels in corneal wound healing and epithelial cell regeneration: an ex vivo studyRamachandran Samivel0Mana A. Alanazi1Adnan A. Khan2Ali M. Masmali3Saud A. Alanazi4Turki Almubrad5Saeed Akhtar6Cornea Research Chair, Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud UniversityCornea Research Chair, Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud UniversityCornea Research Chair, Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud UniversityCornea Research Chair, Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud UniversityCornea Research Chair, Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud UniversityCornea Research Chair, Department of Optometry, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud UniversityCollege of Applied Medical Sciences, Inaya Medical SciencesAbstract Corneal injury requires both epithelial regeneration and stromal repair, and formulated biomaterials established to repair damaged corneas can be used in regenerative medicine. The challenge is to ensure that biomaterials can be incorporated into the host tissue and delivered intracellularly without causing rapid material deprivation, thus maintaining corneal transparency. Bovine serum albumin-formulated hydrogels (BHG) were prepared by dissolving with riboflavin, retinoic acid, and 2.5% glutaraldehyde solutions. Periphery-centered wounds from camel corneas (8mm diameter and 250 µm depth) were mounted on a dome-shaped agarose gel in six-well plates containing BHG-supplemented serum-free Medium 199. The plates were then incubated at 37 °C for 24, 48, and 72 h. A complete set of corneoscleral rings was procured and processed for histopathological, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry assays. Histological and electron microscopy results showed that all epithelial layers and anterior stroma developed faster in the BHG-treated wounds than in the untreated wounded corneas. Compared to untreated wounded corneas, BHG-treated corneas accumulated higher levels of fibronectin and ki-67 and lower levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin inductions. BHG-treated corneal wounds healed faster than untreated wounded corneas. Overall, BHG enhances epithelial regeneration and strengthens the stromal architecture by upregulating ECM and growth factors. Hence, BHG is a promising therapeutic hydrogel for wounded corneas, and further studies on corneal stromal wound healing and epithelial cell reimbursement in an in vivo model are required.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04408-3HydrogelRetinoic acidRiboflavinBovine serum albuminCorneal-scleraOrgan culture |
| spellingShingle | Ramachandran Samivel Mana A. Alanazi Adnan A. Khan Ali M. Masmali Saud A. Alanazi Turki Almubrad Saeed Akhtar Therapeutic efficacy of BSA formulated hydrogels in corneal wound healing and epithelial cell regeneration: an ex vivo study Scientific Reports Hydrogel Retinoic acid Riboflavin Bovine serum albumin Corneal-sclera Organ culture |
| title | Therapeutic efficacy of BSA formulated hydrogels in corneal wound healing and epithelial cell regeneration: an ex vivo study |
| title_full | Therapeutic efficacy of BSA formulated hydrogels in corneal wound healing and epithelial cell regeneration: an ex vivo study |
| title_fullStr | Therapeutic efficacy of BSA formulated hydrogels in corneal wound healing and epithelial cell regeneration: an ex vivo study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Therapeutic efficacy of BSA formulated hydrogels in corneal wound healing and epithelial cell regeneration: an ex vivo study |
| title_short | Therapeutic efficacy of BSA formulated hydrogels in corneal wound healing and epithelial cell regeneration: an ex vivo study |
| title_sort | therapeutic efficacy of bsa formulated hydrogels in corneal wound healing and epithelial cell regeneration an ex vivo study |
| topic | Hydrogel Retinoic acid Riboflavin Bovine serum albumin Corneal-sclera Organ culture |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04408-3 |
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