Collagen based scaffolds with infused anti VEGF release system as potential cornea substitute for high risk keratoplasty: An in vitro evaluation

Currently, the only widely accepted corneal blindness treatment is to replace it by transplantation with a human donor cornea. However, increasing the shortage of donor corneas, as well as high risk of rejection in some corneal diseases, remain two major problems, which limit the success of corneal transplantation. Corneal neovascularization is considered as one of the main risk factors of graft failure. Different cell-free biosynthetic scaffolds fabricated from collagens or collagen-like peptides are being tested as donor cornea substitutes (DCS). Here, we report for the first-time composite biosynthetic DCS with an integrated sustained release system of the anti-VEGF drug, bevacizumab and their in vitro validation. We have tethered gold nanoparticles with bevacizumab and integrated them into a collagen-based cell-free hydrogel scaffold. Developed grafts preserved good optical properties and were confirmed not toxic to human corneal epithelial cells. Bevacizumab has been shown to constantly releasing from the DCS up to 3 weeks and preserved its anti-angiogenic properties. These results provide background for further use of infused composite biosynthetic DCS with integrated nanosystem of bevacizumab sustained release in corneal disease accompanied by neovascularisation where conventional corneal transplantation might fail.