Human Mitochondrial Transplantation As A Bioenergetic Regenerative Platform For Severe Corneal Injury: Translational Evidence From Animal Model

Severe corneal injuries such as chemical burns induce profound oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired epithelial regeneration, often resulting in persistent epithelial defects and long-term visual morbidity. We evaluated human mitochondrial transplantation as a bioenergetic regenerative strategy for corneal repair following acute chemical injury in mice.

Translational ophthalmology research laboratory.

A corneal chemical burn model was used to induce acute ocular surface injury. Human mitochondria purified from placenta were administered via drops once, compared with vehicle-treated controls. Primary efficacy endpoints included time to epithelial closure and wound healing kinetics quantified by fluorescein staining and digital image analysis. Secondary endpoints included stromal integrity, and safety outcomes.

Treatment with human mitochondria resulted in improved corneal wound healing compared with controls, demonstrating accelerated epithelial closure and favorable corneal recovery signals. No treatment-related safety signals were observed, including no increase in inflammation or structural toxicity over the follow-up period.

Human mitochondrial transplantation supports corneal repair after severe chemical injury and represents a translationally relevant regenerative strategy for anterior segment disease. These findings establish a platform for targeting bioenergetic failure across corneal pathologies and motivate ongoing evaluation in additional clinically relevant models.