Low Energy Blue Pulsed Light‐Activated Injectable Materials for Restoring Thinning Corneas

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2023-11, Vol.33 (45), p.n/a
• Main Authors: MacAdam, Aidan J., Munoz, Marcelo, Hage, Jinane El, Hu, Kevin, Ross, Alex, Chandra, Astha, Edwards, Jodi D., Shahid, Zian, Mourcos, Sophia, Comtois‐Bona, Maxime E., Juarez, Alejandro, Groleau, Marc, Dégué, Delali Shana, Djallali, Mohamed, Piché, Marilyse, Thériault, Mathieu, Grenier, Michel, Griffith, May, Brunette, Isabelle, Alarcon, Emilio I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biocompatibility; Biomedical materials; Cornea; cornea repair; Glycosaminoglycans; Hyaluronic acid; Hydrogels; injectable materials; keratoconus; Light; light‐activated; Luminous intensity; Materials science; Peptides; Thinning; Transplantation
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202302721

Many alternatives to human donor corneas are being developed to meet the global shortage of donated tissues. However, corneal transplantation remains the gold standard for diseases resulting in thinning corneas. In this study, transparent low energy photoactivated extracellular matrix‐mimicking materials are developed for intrastromal injection to restore stromal thickness. The injectable biomaterials are comprised of short peptides and glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin, hyaluronic acid) that assemble into a hydrogel when pulsed with low‐energy blue light. The dosage of pulsed‐blue light needed for material activation is minimal at 8.5 mW cm−2, thus circumventing any blue light cytotoxicity. Intrastromal injection of these light‐activated biomaterials in rat corneas shows that two iterations of the formulations remain stable in situ without stimulating significant inflammation or neovascularization. The use of low light intensities and the ability of the developed materials to stably rebuild and change the curvature of the cornea tissue make these formulations attractive for clinical translation. Transparent low energy pulsed‐photoactivated extracellular matrix‐mimicking materials can modulate intrastromal cornea thickness. The injectable biomaterials comprise custom designed short peptides and glycosaminoglycans that on the spot assemble into hydrogels when pulsed with low‐energy blue light. The use of low light intensities and the ability to tune cornea thickness make these materials attractive for clinical translation.