Comparative Evaluation of Commercial and Bovine Eye-Derived Collagen in Tear-Triggered, Intraocular Pressure-Resistant Bioadhesive Hydrogels for Corneal Tissue Engineering
X. Polymer Science and Technology Congress with International Participation (PolimerTR 2026), İstanbul, Türkiye, 16 - 18 Eylül 2026, ss.172, (Özet Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.172
- İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Adresli: Evet
Özet
Corneal injuries affect millions of individuals annually and continue to represent a significant challenge in ophthalmology. Biomaterial-based
strategies offer promising alternatives to conventional suturing techniques; however, the selection of an appropriate collagen source remains
critical for achieving optimal biological and mechanical performance. This study compares bioadhesive hydrogels prepared using commercial
collagen and collagen extracted from bovine corneal tissue for corneal tissue engineering applications.
Hybrid hydrogels consisting of keratin extracted from human hair, collagen, and methacrylated alginate (AlgMA) were fabricated and
crosslinked using visible-light photopolymerization followed by ionic stabilization in artificial tears. After establishing the baseline hydrogel
system with commercial collagen, collagen was extracted from bovine corneas through acid-solubilization, purified, and incorporated into
equivalent formulations. The resulting hydrogels were evaluated through mechanical characterization, swelling behavior, degradation kinetics,
FTIR spectroscopy and SEM imaging.
Comparative analyses revealed that bovine eye-derived collagen can successfully replace commercial collagen while maintaining the structural
integrity and functional characteristics required for corneal applications. The tissue-derived collagen formulations demonstrated
physicochemical and biological properties comparable to those of commercial collagen-based hydrogels, supporting their suitability for
regenerative ophthalmic use.
This work highlights the feasibility of utilizing native corneal collagen as an alternative biomaterial source and demonstrates the potential of
keratin–collagen–AlgMA bioadhesive hydrogels as transparent, biomimetic, and clinically adaptable platforms for corneal tissue regeneration.