Validation and assessment of an antibiotic-based, aseptic decontamination manufacturing protocol for therapeutic, vacuum-dried human amniotic membrane.

Amniotic membrane (AM) is used to treat a range of ophthalmic indications but must be presented in a non-contaminated state. AM from elective caesarean sections contains natural microbial contamination, requiring removal during processing protocols. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of antibiotic decontamination of AM, during processing by innovative low-temperature vacuum-drying.

Anti-inflammatory potential of human corneal stroma-derived stem cells determined by a novel corneal epithelial injury model.

Background: An injury model mimicking a corneal surface injury was optimised using human corneal epithelial cells (hCEC).

Aim: To investigate whether corneal-stroma derived stem cells (CSSC) seeded on an amniotic membrane (AM) construct manifests an anti-inflammatory, healing response.

Methods: Treatment of hCEC with ethanol and pro-inflammatory cytokines were compared in terms of viability loss, cytotoxicity, and pro-inflammatory cytokine release, in order to generate the injury.