Characterization of an anterior segment organ culture model for open globe injuries

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 8546
• Main Authors: Snider, Eric J., Boice, Emily N., Gross, Brandon, Butler, Jacinque J., Zamora, David O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 20.04.2021; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/301/54/990; 692/308/1426; 692/699/3161/3163; Biomaterials; Cornea; Drug development; Humanities and Social Sciences; Injuries; multidisciplinary; Organ culture; Pressure; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87910-8

Open-globe injuries have poor visual outcomes and have increased in frequency. The current standard of care is inadequate, and a therapeutic is needed to stabilize the injury until an ophthalmic specialist is reached. Unfortunately, current models or test platforms for open-globe injuries are insufficient. Here, we develop and characterize an open-globe injury model using an anterior segment organ-culture platform that allows therapeutic assessment for up to 72 h post-injury. Anterior segments maintained in organ culture were kept at physiological intraocular pressure throughout, and puncture injuries were created using a novel pneumatic-powered system. This system can create high-speed, military-relevant injuries up to 4.5 mm in diameter through the cornea. From intraocular pressure readings, we confirmed a loss of pressure across the 72 h after open-globe injury. Proof-of-concept studies with a Dermabond tissue adhesive were performed to show how this model system could track therapeutic performance for 72 h. Overall, the organ-culture platform was found to be a suitable next step towards modeling open-globe injuries and assessing wound closure over the critical 72 h post-injury. With improved models such as this, novel biomaterial therapeutics development can be accelerated, improving care, and, thus, improving the prognosis for the patients.