Figure 2

Physical and biochemical properties of the decellularized human cornea (DHC). (A) Scanning electron microscopy micrographs of the normal human cornea (NHC) and DHC in presence or absence of dextran; the anterior surface of the cornea (i–iv) showing cells on the NHC (I, iii) but no cells on the DHC (ii, iv) and cross-section of the cornea (v–viii) showing collagen bundles and distance between the bundles being larger without dextran (i, ii). Scale bar = 10 µm. (B) Macroscopic pictures of NHC & DHC (0, 4% dextran) placed on the word “cornea” in the background for a visual representation of the tissue transparency: DHC seems to be a bit cloudier without dextran than NHC and DHC with 4% dextran. (C) Quantitative analysis of light transmittance through the NHC and DHC in glycerol before and after incubation at visible wavelengths (n = 5). The graph represents the percentage of transmittance in NHC and DHC at different wavelengths. (D) Mechanical properties of DHC by indentation in comparison to NHC. Data are expressed as means ± S.E.M. (n = 4). (E) Histological evaluation of extracellular matrix content by periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and alcian blue (AB) on DHC (with 0 or 4% dextran) compared with NHC. Scale bar = 100 µm. (F) Sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAGs) content of DHC in the presence or absence of dextran in comparison to NHC. The graph represents a percentage (%) of sGAGs content in corneal samples and data are expressed as means ± S.E.M. (n = 5).