Regenerative effect of Plasma rich in growth factors-transparent membrane in an animal model of photorefractive keratectomy. Comparative study with amniotic membrane.

Abstract

This study evaluates the regenerative potential of a newly developed transparent plasma rich in growth factors (tmPRGF) membrane for corneal wound healing, comparing with the amniotic membrane (AM). The wound closure process, corneal opacity, and the expression of key inflammation and tissue regeneration markers were analyzed in a photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) mouse model. The tmPRGF membrane demonstrated superior optical transparency, allowing direct visualization of the corneal surface post-surgery, an advantage over AM, which hampers the visualization of the ocular structures. tmPRGF-treated eyes showed significantly faster epithelial wound closure at day 1 post-surgery compared to AM and control groups. By day 7, all groups achieved complete re-epithelialization, but tmPRGF-treated corneas exhibited more mature epithelial morphology and β-catenin expression, indicating better tissue regeneration. Additionally, tmPRGF reduced corneal haze and stromal fibrosis, as evidenced by lower α-SMA-positive myofibroblast presence. Both tmPRGF and AM treatments significantly decreased IL-6-positive immune cells, suggesting anti-inflammatory effects. However, tmPRGF showed a more favorable profile in minimizing inflammation and fibrosis. The findings suggest that tmPRGF not only supports effective corneal healing but also offers clinical advantages such as transparency for real-time monitoring and reduced risk of immune response. These results position tmPRGF as a promising alternative to AM in ocular surface repair.