Effect of improved preservation solution with methoxy polyethylene glycol succinimidyl propionate on rat cornea.

To observe the effect of DMEM/F12 pegylated with methoxy polyethylene glycol succinimidyl propionate (mPEG-SPA) on the biophysical and immune characteristics of the rat cornea preserved in it. Corneal grafts were harvested from Wistar rat and preserved in the DMEM/F12 plus mPEG-SPA, DMEM/F12 without mPEG-SPA, and standard Optisol-GS solution at 4 °C for 14 days, referred as plus-PEG, minus-PEG, and Optisol grafts, respectively. The biophysical properties of those grafts, including transmittance, thickness, water content, and biomechanics were investigated. The survival of those grafts was observed in the high-risk corneal transplantation model. Transmittance and biomechanics did not show any differences among those grafts. Thickness and water content of plus-PEG grafts were slightly improved. Proliferation and activation of lymphocytes were lower while they were incubated with plus-PEG grafts, compared with minus-PEG grafts and Optisol grafts. The mean survival time was significantly prolonged in plus-PEG grafts. DMEM/F12 solution plus mPEG-SPA improved the survival of corneal grafts and maintained the comparative biophysical characteristics of them, compared with the standard preservation solution.