Abstract:

Objective  To observe the biological characteristics of corneal limbal epithelial cells (CLEC) and compare the cell proliferation rate on common culture dish and poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogel films(PHF). Design  Experimental study. Participants  Human corneal limbal epithelial cells. Methods  CLEC were cultured by explant culture method in vitro and placed on common culture dish or PHF until growth to exponential phase. The growth characteristics of the cultured cells were observed under inverted microscope and using immunostaining method. The cell proliferation rate between the two groups was analyzed using CCK-8 assay. Main Outcome Measures The CLEC growth under light microscope, AE1 staining, the optical density(OD) of CCK-8 assay. Results The two groups of CLEC can migrate，amplify and become confluent. The proliferation speed of PHF group was the same as common culture dish group under optical microscope. AE1 positive rate of PHF group(73.26±8.84%) was the same as common culture dish group(70.84±3.51%). There was no statistically significant difference of the OD between PHF group (0.89±0.06, 1.13±0.10, 1.24±0.03, respectively)and common culture dish group(0.89±0.03, 1.08±0.04, 1.28±0.09, respectively) at 12h、24h、48h (P=0.79, 0.36, 0.76, respectively). The relative growth rate of PHF group at 12h、24h、48h (99.12±4.81%, 103.74±5.55%, 97.83±13.37%,  respectively) were all higher than 75% (P=0.37, 0.90, respectively). Conclusion PHF is a good carrier for amplification of corneal limbal epithelial cells. (Ophthalmol CHN, 2016, 25: 405-408)

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