PRESERVED AMNIOTIC MEMBRANE IN TISSUE-ENGINEERING COMPLEX STRUCTURE OF ANTERIOR EPITHELIAL CORNEAL LAYER

Aim. To carry out experiment study of the possibility of cultivation of anterior corneal epithelial cells on the surface of silico-dried plasticized amniotic membrane “Flexamer”. Materials and methods. Histological study of amniotic membrane “Flexamer”, preserved by silico-drying and additionally sterilized by gamma rays, was conducted. The cultivated cells of the anterior corneal epithelium were precipitated on the surface of biomaterial “Flexamer”. Morphological assessment of the quality of fixation and biotoxicity of silico-dried plasticized amniotic membrane “Flexamer” was fulfilled. Results. A typical peculiar feature of biomaterial “Flexamer” is a minimum damage of the structure of epithelial layer, despite obvious cell viability. The studied tissue is also characterized by a good safety of all the rest layers of the amniotic membrane. The cultivated anterior corneal epithelium cells, precipitated on the surface of silico-dried plasticized amniotic membrane “Flexamer”, formed colonies and continued to proliferate. By the days 10-12, the second - third layer of epithelial cells was formed. By this time, the cells acquire a polygonal form and a nuclear-cytoplasmic index, more typical for the corneal epithelium. Conclusions. The conducted experimental study confirms safety of biologically active substances, which are concentrated mostly in the epithelial layer of amnion after its drying over the silica gel. Good fixation of cultivated cells, absence of cytotoxicity allow to make a conclusion about the possibility of applying biomaterial “Flexamer” as a substrate for formation of tissue-engineering complex with use of anterior corneal epithelial cells.

Corneal epithelium, cultivation of epithelial cells, amniotic membrane