The study of ability to integrate with the recipient cornea of xenomaterial “Corneoplast” for keratoplasty in the animal experiment

Currently, there is a significant shortage of donor materials for replacing corneal tissue that is why it is relevant to create xenomaterials, which are able to replace a donor cornea with various types of keratoplasty. “Corneoplast” is a new medical device, which is a devitalized, fixed by the method of double crosslinking (dehydrothermic + UV), pork cornea.

Purpose: to assess the biocompatibility and ability to integrate with the recipient cornea of implants based on the xenomaterial “Corneoplast”.

Materials and methods. The experiment was based on biomicroscopy examination, high-resolution optical coherence tomography and histological examination of the experimental rabbits’ corneas (group I–IV: total of 8 eyes were examined), where keratoplasty was performed with the “Corneoplast” material.

Results. High biocompatibility and ability to integrate with the recipient’s cornea were observed in all types of keratoplasty: penetrating, superficial lamellar and intralamellar keratoplasty. On the next day, the implant was transparent with slight swelling of the recipient’s corneal stroma. A week later, the slight swelling of implant was recorded without cornea edema. Its transparency decreased. The recipient’s cornea was reactive. A month later, the moderate neovascularization was noted towards the sutures. After 6 months, the recipient’s cornea was clear, transparent. The implant was translucent and neovascularization was absent. The entire surface of cornea and implant was epithelialized. On the series of optical coherent tomograms, a normal thickness of the epithelium continuous layer was determined in 6 months after the surgery. The complete integration of material with the recipient’s cornea was noted. The layered structure characteristic of corneal tissue was preserved. The cornea retained a layered structure and the endothelium was preserved. On histological examination, there were no differences in the intact cornea and implanted material.

Conclusion. The “Corneoplast” material is sufficiently biocompatible and capable of integration with the recipient’s cornea in an animal experiment. This allows, at a certain stage of preclinical trials completion, to use it for replacing corneal tissue in penetrating keratoplasty, intralamellar and superficial anterior layer-by-layer implantations and to cover purulent corneal ulcers of various depths.

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