Kuragel: A biomimetic hydrogel scaffold designed to promote corneal regeneration

Cornea related injuries are most common cause of blindness worldwide. Transplantation remains primary approach for addressing corneal blindness, though the demand for donor corneas outmatches the supply by millions. Tissue adhesives employed to seal corneal wounds has shown inefficient healing and incomplete vision restoration. We have developed a biodegradable hydrogel- Kuragel, with the ability to promote corneal regeneration. Functionalized gelatin and hyaluronic acid form photo-crosslinkable hydrogel with transparency and compressive modulus similar to healthy human cornea. Kuragel composition was tuned to achieve sufficient adhesive strength for sutureless integration to host tissue, with minimal swelling post-administration. Studies in New Zealand rabbits mechanical injury model affecting corneal epithelium and stroma demonstrate that Kuragel efficiently promotes re-epithelialization within one month of administration, while stroma and sub-basal nerve plexus regenerate within three months. We propose Kuragel as a regenerative treatment for patients suffering from corneal defects including thinning, by restoration of transparency and thickness.