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Biosynthetic Collagen-Analog Hydrogels Stimulate Endogenous Regrowth of Rabbit Corneas: A Pilot Study
by
, , , , , , , and
Iris Timmerman
1,*, 
Marie-Claude Robert
2,
Claire Vergneau-Grosset
1,
Tristan Juette
1,
Javier Benito
1,
Marta Garbin
1,
Mostafa Zamani-Roudbaraki
2,
Mona Moradi
2,
Hamid Goodarzi
2,
Christos Boutopoulos
2
,
Marie-Odile Benoit-Biancamano
1
,
May Griffith
2,† and
Maria Vanore
1,*,†
1
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, 3200 Rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
2
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Montreal and Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, 5690 Boul. Rosemont, Pavillon Claudine D’Amours, Montreal, QC H1T 2H2, Canada
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(8), 785; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12080785 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 5 July 2025
/
Revised: 13 August 2025
/
Accepted: 20 August 2025
/
Published: 21 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vision in Focus: Advances in Veterinary Ophthalmology)
Simple Summary
Preserving visual function and ocular integrity in the presence of corneal disease remains challenging due to the limitations of existing methods. The materials currently in use present several drawbacks, including reduced transparency, uncertain availability, and high complication rates. In veterinary medicine, corneal grafting in companion animals is further complicated by the limited availability of high-quality allografts, which remain the gold standard for corneal transplantation. Recently, a new type of corneal implant has been developed, composed of synthetic collagen and acellular scaffolds that stimulate host cell regeneration, thereby preventing immune rejection and promoting integration of the biomaterial into the cornea. These implants are inexpensive, non-immunogenic, and easy to manufacture, and could eventually improve the accessibility of corneal transplantation while reducing associated complication rates. The aim of our study was to expand current knowledge on these novel materials by evaluating two types of synthetic collagen in comparison with allografts. Our findings suggest that biosynthetic alternatives could represent a promising future treatment option.
Abstract
Pro-regenerative corneal implants are being developed to improve corneal healing for companion animals in clinical practice. This pilot study evaluated early corneal tissue and nerve regeneration using biosynthetic collagen-analog hydrogels (CAH) in liquid and solid forms. Their efficacy was compared to each other and to allografts on nine white New Zealand rabbits, divided in three groups of three. Each rabbit cornea underwent keratectomy followed by grafting with either a control allograft cornea, liquid injectable, or solid CAH implant. Corneal healing was assessed over 16 weeks using clinical exams, esthesiometry, in vivo confocal microscopy, and optical coherence tomography. One rabbit per group was euthanized at 3, 10, and 16 weeks for histopathological analysis. Both liquid and solid implants enabled corneal re-epithelialization and regeneration of stromal tissue and corneal nerves. Esthesiometric values indicated faster nerve regeneration in rabbits grafted with biosynthetic implants compared to allografts (p < 0.005). By 16 weeks, regenerated neocorneas achieved transparency comparable to allografts. Solid and liquid CAH implants supported complete corneal tissue and nerve regeneration in the studied rabbits. These results suggest that with further research and development, the current gold standard for corneal transplantation could be replaced by high-performing, easily produced biosynthetic alternatives.
