Bioactive self-assembled peptide nanofibers for corneal stroma regeneration

G Uzunalli; Z Soran; T S Erkal; Y S Dagdas; E Dinc; A M Hondur; K Bilgihan; B Aydin; M O Guler; A B Tekinay

doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2013.12.002

Bioactive self-assembled peptide nanofibers for corneal stroma regeneration

Acta Biomater. 2014 Mar;10(3):1156-66. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2013.12.002. Epub 2013 Dec 12.

Authors

G Uzunalli¹, Z Soran¹, T S Erkal¹, Y S Dagdas¹, E Dinc², A M Hondur³, K Bilgihan³, B Aydin⁴, M O Guler⁵, A B Tekinay⁶

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM), Bilkent University, Ankara 06800, Turkey.
² Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Mersin University, Mersin, Turkey.
³ Department of Ophthalmology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM), Bilkent University, Ankara 06800, Turkey. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM), Bilkent University, Ankara 06800, Turkey. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 24334145
DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2013.12.002

Abstract

Defects in the corneal stroma caused by trauma or diseases such as macular corneal dystrophy and keratoconus can be detrimental for vision. Development of therapeutic methods to enhance corneal regeneration is essential for treatment of these defects. This paper describes a bioactive peptide nanofiber scaffold system for corneal tissue regeneration. These nanofibers are formed by self-assembling peptide amphiphile molecules containing laminin and fibronectin inspired sequences. Human corneal keratocyte cells cultured on laminin-mimetic peptide nanofibers retained their characteristic morphology, and their proliferation was enhanced compared with cells cultured on fibronectin-mimetic nanofibers. When these nanofibers were used for damaged rabbit corneas, laminin-mimetic peptide nanofibers increased keratocyte migration and supported stroma regeneration. These results suggest that laminin-mimetic peptide nanofibers provide a promising injectable, synthetic scaffold system for cornea stroma regeneration.

Keywords: Corneal stroma regeneration; Peptide amphiphile; RGD; Self-assembly; YIGSR.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology*
Cell Proliferation / drug effects
Cell Shape / drug effects
Cells, Cultured
Corneal Stroma / cytology
Corneal Stroma / drug effects
Corneal Stroma / physiology*
Fibroblasts / cytology
Fibroblasts / drug effects
Fibroblasts / ultrastructure
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Molecular Sequence Data
Nanofibers / chemistry*
Nanofibers / ultrastructure
Peptides / chemistry
Peptides / pharmacology*
Rabbits
Regeneration / drug effects*
Surface-Active Agents / chemistry

Substances

Biocompatible Materials
Peptides
Surface-Active Agents