A sustainable approach to derive sheep corneal scaffolds from stored slaughterhouse waste

Aim: The escalating demand for corneal transplants significantly surpasses the available supply. To bridge this gap, we concentrated on ethical and sustainable corneal grafting sources. Our objective was to create viable corneal scaffolds from preserved slaughterhouse waste. Materials & methods: Corneas were extracted and decellularized from eyeballs that had been refrigerated for several days. These scaffolds underwent evaluation through DNA quantification, histological analysis, surface tension measurement, light propagation testing, and tensile strength assessment. Results: Both the native and acellular corneas (with similar to 90% DNA removed using a cost-effective and environmentally friendly surfactant) maintained essential optical and biomechanical properties for potential clinical use. Conclusion: Our method of repurposing slaughterhouse waste, stored at 4 degrees C for several days, to develop corneal scaffolds offers a sustainable and economical alternative xenograft model.