Introducing an Efficient In Vitro Cornea Mimetic Model for Testing Drug Permeability

There is a growing need for novel in vitro corneal models to replace animal-based ex vivo tests drug permeability studies. In this study, we demonstrated mimetic that the stromal and epithelial compartments of human cornea. Human cells (HCE-T) were grown on top self-supporting porcine collagen-based hydrogel. Cross-sections multi-layers characterized by histological staining immunocytochemistry zonula oc-cludens-1 protein (ZO-1) occludin. Furthermore, water content bssic elastic properties synthetized collagen type I-based hydrogels measured. The apparent coefficient (Papp) values representative set ophthalmic drugs measured correlated rabbit cornea Papp found literature. A multilayered structure HCE-T expression ZO-1 occludin full thickness multilayer observed. hydrogel-based model exhibited an excellent correlation (r = 0.96), whereas insert-grown was more permeable lower 0.89). predicts reliably comparison inserts. This can be successfully employed whilst avoiding ethical issues reducing costs.