PROCEDURE FOR LONG TERM CORNEAL CULTURE

• Main Authors: DONOVAN ALISON L, PIEHL MICHELLE A, GILOTTI ALBERT C, DEGEORGE GEORGE L, CARATHERS MICHEAL R, CERVEN DANIEL R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 13.05.2010
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES, AS HERBICIDES; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL ORENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES; ENZYMOLOGY; FISHING; FORESTRY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HUNTING; MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEICACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS; PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTSTHEREOF; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; SPIRITS; TRAPPING; VINEGAR; WINE

A method for long-term multi-species cornea culture and preservation is provided. Excised mammalian corneas are preserved with structural integrity by filling the endothelial cavity with a plug material. Plugged corneas are sterile-cultured for more than 21 days via an air-interface culture where nutrients from a culture media are supplied to corneal tissue primarily through the plug. Plugged corneas are incubated in culture dishes with a customized media continuously in contact with the ocular sclera and corneal plug, and periodically bathing the corneal surface epithelia. An animal-alternative toxicology assay is also provided using excised porcine corneas capable of assessing ocular injury reversibility within 21 days. Further provided is a method of mammalian corneal preservation for excised human corneas extending their storage life to three to four weeks.