Self-assembling nanofiber hydrogels to attenuate epithelial mesenchymal transition in lens epithelial cells

Fibrosis can affect several organs as lungs, kidneys, heart, liver and also the eye. Fibrosis in these different organs has in common the transformation of original cell types into mesenchymal-like cells, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Patients with a clouded lens that ultimately can result in blindness receive surgery in which the interior of the eye lens is replaced with an intra-ocular lens. This is a successful procedure, but roughly 15 percent of the patients develop posterior capsular opacification (PCO) caused by lens epithelial cells going into EMT.
The aim of this thesis was to study new injectable biomaterials that can be used to control or suppress the EMT response in lens epithelial cells. The interaction of these cells with low molecular weight gelators (LMWG) consisting of self-assembling nanofibers were studied using in vitro and ex vivo models. The nanofibers were equipped with biologically active peptides, which are short amino acid sequences originally present in proteins of the extracellular matrix. A significant decrease in EMT was found with one particular mixture of peptides, although a total avoidance of EMT was not accomplished.
Furthermore, the effects of lubrication on the eye cornea was investigated in relation to the problem of dry eyes and the use of contact lenses. Fluorescent stains were used to assess cornea damage. Lubricants were shown to decrease this damage.