Rapidly Photocurable Corneal Interlamellar Adhesive for Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty

Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) has gained widespread utilization in corneal transplantation, thus generating significant interest in the use of tissue adhesives as a substitute for conventional sutures in this surgical procedure. However, several key challenges persist, including prolonged curing times, inadequate mechanical and adhesive properties, and insufficient biocompatibility. In this study, we developed a three-component corneal interlaminar adhesive, comprising methylacrylic acid-amided collagen (ColMA), methylacrylic acid-amided gelatin (GelMA), and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). This adhesive can be rapidly photo-cross-linked through free radical polymerization under blue light irradiation. It exhibits rapid photo-cross-linking kinetics and demonstrates robust adhesion strength. By incorporation of flexible macromolecules into the hydrogel network, the resulting hydrogel adhesive achieves an appropriate modulus for corneal applications. In subcutaneous implantation surgery conducted on mice models, the hydrogel adhesive exhibits stable collagen accumulation capability along with an effective inflammation control ability. Therefore, our developed adhesive holds potential for application in DALK surgery