@article{SchmidTarauRossietal.2018, author = {Schmid, Richard and Tarau, Ioana-Sandra and Rossi, Angela and Leonhardt, Stefan and Schwarz, Thomas and Schuerlein, Sebastian and Lotz, Christian and Hansmann, Jan}, title = {In Vivo-Like Culture Conditions in a Bioreactor Facilitate Improved Tissue Quality in Corneal Storage}, series = {Biotechnology Journal}, volume = {13}, journal = {Biotechnology Journal}, number = {1,1700344}, doi = {10.1002/biot.201700344}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-228620}, pages = {1-7}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The cornea is the most-transplanted tissue worldwide. However, the availability and quality of grafts are limited due to the current methods of corneal storage. In this study, a dynamic bioreactor system is employed to enable the control of intraocular pressure and the culture at the air-liquid interface. Thereby, in vivo-like storage conditions are achieved. Different media combinations for endothelium and epithelium are tested in standard and dynamic conditions to enhance the viability of the tissue. In contrast to culture conditions used in eye banks, the combination of the bioreactor and biochrom medium 1 allows to preserve the corneal endothelium and the epithelium. Assessment of transparency, swelling, and the trans-epithelial-electrical-resistance (TEER) strengthens the impact of the in vivo-like tissue culture. For example, compared to corneas stored under static conditions, significantly lower optical densities and significantly higher TEER values were measured (p-value <0.05). Furthermore, healing of epithelial defects is enabled in the bioreactor, characterized by re-epithelialization and initiated stromal regeneration. Based on the obtained results, an easy-to-use 3D-printed bioreactor composed of only two parts was derived to translate the technology from the laboratory to the eye banks. This optimized bioreactor facilitates noninvasive microscopic monitoring. The improved storage conditions ameliorate the quality of corneal grafts and the storage time in the eye banks to increase availability and reduce re-grafting.}, language = {en} } @article{LotzSchmidRossietal.2016, author = {Lotz, Christian and Schmid, Freia F. and Rossi, Angela and Kurdyn, Szymon and Kampik, Daniel and De Wever, Bart and Walles, Heike and Groeber, Florian K.}, title = {Alternative Methods for the Replacement of Eye Irritation Testing}, series = {ALTEX - Alternatives to Animal Experimentation}, volume = {33}, journal = {ALTEX - Alternatives to Animal Experimentation}, number = {1}, doi = {10.14573/altex.1508241}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-164444}, pages = {55-67}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In the last decades significant regulatory attempts were made to replace, refine and reduce animal testing to assess the risk of consumer products for the human eye. As the original in vivo Draize eye test is criticized for limited predictivity, costs and ethical issues, several animal-free test methods have been developed to categorize substances according to the global harmonized system (GHS) for eye irritation. This review summarizes the progress of alternative test methods for the assessment of eye irritation. Based on the corneal anatomy and current knowledge of the mechanisms causing eye irritation, different ex vivo and in vitro methods will be presented and discussed with regard to possible limitations and status of regulatory acceptance. In addition to established in vitro models, this review will also highlight emerging, full thickness cornea models that might be suited to predict all GHS categories.}, language = {en} }