Staff of the Pharmacology Laboratory of the V. P. Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine conducted a study aimed at identifying novel approaches to stimulating corneal regeneration following thermal injury.

The study was authored by H. S. Fesiunova, N. I. Molchaniuk, S. M. Kisil, H. B. Abramova, and Ye. I. Mamaieva — researchers of the Pharmacology Laboratory of the V. P. Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine.

Thermal corneal injuries remain one of the most severe forms of ophthalmic trauma and constitute a significant part of all ocular burns.

Such injuries often lead to persistent impairment of visual function and, in severe cases,to loss of form vision. Despite the wide range of modern treatment methods, the problem of complete restoration of corneal structure and function following burn injury remains relevant.

One of the promising directions in modern ophthalmopharmacology is the use of biologically active substances of natural origin capable of influencing cellular mechanisms of regeneration.

Considerable attention of researchers is drawn to the polysaccharides of tree aloe (Aloe arborescens Miller), the main active component of which is acemannan — a natural biopolymer with pronounced regenerative characteristics.

The aim of the study was to investigate ultrastructural changes in corneal anterior epithelial cells following the application of an aqueous extract of aloe polysaccharides after experimental thermal burn of the cornea.

Electron microscopic examinations demonstrated a positive effect of aloe polysaccharides on corneal tissue regeneration processes. After completion of the treatment course, restoration of damaged cellular and subcellular structures of the corneal anterior epithelium was observed, including mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, intercellular junctions, and cytoskeletal elements.

The obtained results indicate the promising potential of aloe polysaccharide-based preparations as part of combination therapy for thermal burns of the cornea and provide a basis for further clinical studies and the implementation of modern treatment methods in ophthalmic practice.