HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (2) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sekiyama, E. Articles by Kinoshita, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sekiyama, E. Articles by Kinoshita, S.

Novel Sutureless Transplantation of Bioadhesive-Coated, Freeze-Dried Amniotic Membrane for Ocular Surface Reconstruction

¹From the Department of Ophthalmology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan; the ³Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan; and the ⁴Biomedical Science Unit, Biological Sciences, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom.

PURPOSE. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel sutureless transplantation of bioadhesive-coated, sterilized, freeze-dried amniotic membrane (FD-AM) for ocular surface reconstruction.

METHODS. A bioadhesive-coated, freeze-dried amniotic membrane was made by freeze drying the denuded AM in a vacuum, applying the minimum amount of fibrin glue (mixture of fibrinogen and thrombin) necessary to retain adhesion on the chorionic side, and sterilizing it by -radiation. The resultant AM was characterized for its biological and morphologic properties by immunohistochemical and electron microscopic examination. In addition, fibrin glue-coated, freeze-dried (FCFD) AM was transplanted onto a rabbit scleral surface without sutures, to examine its biocompatibility.

RESULTS. Immunohistochemistry of the FCFD-AM revealed that fibrinogen existed on its chorionic side, and the process of applying fibrin glue did not affect its biological and morphologic properties. Moreover, electron microscopic examination of the chorionic side of the FCFD-AM revealed tiny microfibrils (which are probably fibrinogen protofibrils), and showed that the epithelial surface of FCFD-AM consisted of intact basal lamina similar to that of FD-AM. FCFD-AM transplantation was very easily performed, and the graft adhered to the bare sclera immediately. Though the fibrinogen naturally biodegraded within 2 weeks, the FCFD-AM remained for at least 12 weeks after transplantation. Epithelialization on the FCFD-AM was achieved within 2 weeks, as was the case with FD-AM transplantation. The conjunctival epithelium on the FCFD-AM was well stratified and not keratinized, suggesting that FCFD-AM supports normal cell differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS. The FCFD-AM retained most of the biological characteristics of FD-AM. Consequently, this sutureless method of transplantation of FCFD-AM is safe, simple, and useful for ocular surface reconstruction.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Takaoka, T. Nakamura, H. Sugai, A. J. Bentley, N. Nakajima, N. Yokoi, N. J. Fullwood, S.-H. Hyon, and S. Kinoshita Novel Sutureless Keratoplasty with a Chemically Defined Bioadhesive Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., June 1, 2009; 50(6): 2679 - 2685. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. S. Barequet, Z. Habot-Wilner, N. Keller, G. Smollan, H. Ziv, M. Belkin, and M. Rosner Effect of Amniotic Membrane Transplantation on the Healing of Bacterial Keratitis Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2008; 49(1): 163 - 167. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]