NEW BIOKERATOPROSTHETIC COMPLEX BASED ON MODIFIED ALLOGENIC DONOR CORNEAS AND CULTURED POSTNATAL HUMAN SKIN FIBROBLASTS
The aim of the study was to develop biokeratoprosthetic complex based on cross-linking modified allogenic donor corneas and cultured postnatal human skin fibroblasts. Cross-linking enhances corneal strength and tolerance to proteolytic enzymes. Fibroblasts' proliferation and migration in the intrastromal pocket stimulates fiber syncytium formation and collagen microcarriers integration into the corneal stroma, as well as intercellular matrix formation around the prosthetic metallic plate as early as the cocultivation stage. A new biokeratoprosthetic complex has been successfully developed for further in vivo studies.