Collagen analogs with phosphorylcholine are inflammation-suppressing scaffolds for corneal regeneration from alkali burns in mini-pigs

Abstract The long-term survival of biomaterial implants is often hampered by surgery-induced inflammation that can lead to graft failure. Considering most corneas receiving grafts are either pathological or inflamed before implantation, the risk rejection heightened. Here, we show bioengineered, fully synthetic, and robust corneal be manufactured from a collagen analog (collagen-like peptide-polyethylene glycol hybrid, CLP-PEG) inflammation-suppressing polymeric 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) when stabilized with triazine-based crosslinker 4-(4,6-Dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride. resulting CLP-PEG-MPC led reduced swelling, haze, neovascularization in comparison CLP-PEG only grafted into mini-pig cornea alkali burn model over 12 months. Implants incorporating MPC allowed for faster nerve regeneration recovery sensation. appear at more advanced stage than implants, as evidenced presence higher amounts cornea-specific type V collagen, corresponding decrease extracellular vesicles exosomes stroma, keeping present healthy, unoperated corneas.