| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Sensory Trauma, United States Army Institute of Surgical Research, San Antonio, TX 78234, United States;2. Jade Therapeutics, Inc. (Wholly Owned Subsidiary of EyeGate Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), 391 Chipeta Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, United States;3. University of Utah, Moran Eye Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, United States |
| Abstract: | PurposeThe study objective was to test the utilization of a crosslinked, thiolated hyaluronic acid (CMHA-S) film for treating corneal chemical burns.MethodsBurns 5.5 mm in diameter were created on 10 anesthetized, male New Zealand white rabbits by placing a 1N NaOH soaked circular filter paper onto the cornea for 30 s. Wounds were immediately rinsed with balanced salt solution (BSS). CMHA-S films were placed in the left inferior fornix of five injured and five uninjured animals. Five animals received no treatment. At 0 h, 48 h, 96 h, and on day 14 post chemical burn creation, eyes were evaluated by white light imaging, fluorescein staining, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Corneal histology was performed using H&E and Masson's Trichrome stains.ResultsImage analysis indicated biocompatible CMHA-S treatment resulted in significant decreases in the areas of corneal opacity at 48 h, 96 h, and on day 14 postoperatively. A significant increase in re-epithelialization was seen 14 days post injury. CMHA-S treated corneas showed significantly less edema than untreated burns. No pathological differences were observed in corneal histological samples as a result of CMHA-S treatment.ConclusionsCMHA-S films facilitate re-epithelialization and decrease the area of corneal opacity in our corneal alkali burn rabbit model. |
