Abstract
AIM: To develop a new decellularization method depended upon the natural corneal structure and to harvest an ideal scaffold with good biocompatibilities for corneal reconstruction. METHODS: The acellular cornea matrix (ACM) were prepared from de-epithelium fresh porcine corneas (DFPCs) by incubation with 100% fresh human sera and additional electrophoresis at 4°C. Human corneal epithelial cells (HCEs) were used for the cytotoxicity tests of ACM. ACM were implanted into the Enhanced Green Fluorecence Protein (eGFP) transgenic mouse anterior chamber for evaluation of histocompatibility. RESULTS: HE and GSIB4 results showed fresh porcine cornea matrix with 100% human sera and electrophoresis could entirely decellularize stromal cell without reducing its transparency. ACM had no cytotoxic effect ex vivo. Animal test showed there was no rejection for one month after surgery. CONCLUSION: These results provide a decellularizing approach for the study of corneal tissue engineering and had the broader implications for the field of biological tissue engineering in other engineered organ or tissue matrix.