Timp2-modified gelatinhydroxyphenylpropionic acid hydrogels reverse enhanced scleral recovery and suppress myopia development in mice.

A novel therapeutic strategy for form deprivation myopia (FDM) involving Timp2-modified scleral stem cells (SSC(Timp2)) embedded in gelatin-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid (Gtn-HPA) hydrogel was investigated. Transcriptome and single-cell RNA sequencing analyses identified Timp2 as a crucial factor in FDM progression due to its reduced expression in FDM sclera. The developed SSC(Timp2)-Gtn-HPA hydrogel composite demonstrated excellent biocompatibility, rapid gelation, and degradation properties. In vitro studies showed that SSC(Timp2)-GH promoted human scleral fibroblast (HSF) proliferation, inhibited apoptosis, and prevented differentiation. In vivo experiments in mice showed that SSC(Timp2)-GH effectively regulated ocular parameters, facilitated scleral recovery, and improved FDM conditions. These results highlight the potential of SSC(Timp2)-GH as a promising therapeutic approach for myopia treatment by enhancing scleral recovery.