Intrastromal implantation of track-etchedmembranes overlaid by prenatal stromal cells for bullous keratopathy in the experiment

The aim of the research is to study the possibility of using track-etched membrane, including track-etched membranes modified with cold plasma, followed by layering prenatal stem cells (PSC) on the material surface in surgical treatment of bullous keratopathy (BK).
Materials and methods. The track membranes made of polyethylene terephthalate were obtained by irradiating the polymeric film with the 40Ar+8ion beams and by chemical etching. The study was conducted on 16 rabbits (Sylvilagus bachmani), which after BK modelling were divided into 4 groups: the 1st group was a control group of 4 animals (4 eyes); the 2nd group was a group of 4 animals (4 eyes) into which were implanted TM; the 3rd group was a group of 4 animals (4 eyes) into which were implanted TM with PSC; the 4th group was a group of 4 animals (4 eyes) into which were implanted plasma modified TM with PSC. TM was obtained by irradiating the PET film with 40Ar + 8 ions and subsequent chemical etching. The eyes were enucleated for histological examination after 8 weeks from the start of the experiment.
Results. As a result of the research, it was found that the implantation of TM with a preliminary layeringof human PSC promotes the growth of the fibroblast population in the cornea stroma and intensifies leukocyte (lymphocytes and eosinophilic granulocytes) infiltration as opposed to the implantation of PET TM without a cellular component. In addition, the implantation of TM contributes to a twofold decrease in the cornea edema induced by BK. Modification of TM with cold plasma did not affect the studied histomorphometric parameters.
Conclusion. The implantation of TM based on PET during bullous keratopathy contributed to the development of the productive phase of infiltrative inflammation in the cornea of the eye. Pre-layering of human PSC reduced the severity of destructive changes in the rabbit cornea after BK modeling. The modification of TM by cold plasma did not affect the studied histomorphometric parameters.

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