Nasim Annabi, an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, has received two grants from the National Institutes of Health to support her research on developing regenerative biomaterials and bioadhesive therapies.
Bioadhesive Hydrogel for Corneal Tissue Regeneration
The first award is a four-year grant totaling more than $2 million from the National Eye Institute, part of the NIH, to develop biomaterials that can deliver stem cells to treat corneal injuries. Current therapies are limited in their ability to promote tissue repair, often leading to complications such as ulceration, scarring or fibrosis. Mesenchymal stem cells, known as MSCs, have shown promise in therapy for eye injuries because they release signals that reduce inflammation and support healing. However, when applied directly to the ocular surface — the cornea and surrounding outer tissues of the eye — the cells do not stay in place or survive well, limiting their effectiveness.
To address this challenge, Annabi proposes encapsulating MSCs in a minimally invasive, biodegradable adhesive hydrogel that mimics the physical and chemical properties of corneal tissue. The light-curable material, based on chemically modified gelatin and hyaluronic acid, is designed to release MSCs and promote corneal tissue regeneration.
