Sarcouncil Journal of Applied Sciences Aims & Scope

Abstract: Corneal injury can result in persistent epithelial defects, inflammation, stromal fibrosis, vascularization, and impaired corneal transparency. The present study evaluated the therapeutic potential of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles in promoting corneal wound healing in an experimental rabbit model. Sixteen healthy adult male rabbits were randomly divided into two equal groups: a ZnO nanoparticle-treated group and a control group. Experimental corneal injury was induced in the right eye of each animal by surgical removal of the corneal epithelium. Following injury, the treatment group received ZnO nanoparticles at a concentration of 10 μg/200 μL, whereas the control group received normal saline. All animals received antibiotic treatment, and conjunctival flap and tarsorrhaphy procedures were performed. Clinical and histopathological evaluations were conducted at one and two weeks after treatment. Histopathological examination of the control group revealed marked epithelial disruption, stromal edema, inflammatory-cell infiltration, vascularization, and collagen disorganization. In contrast, the ZnO-treated group demonstrated progressive restoration of the corneal epithelium, improved stromal organization, reduced inflammatory-cell infiltration, and comparatively normal collagen alignment by the second week. At one week, the ZnO-treated corneas showed a thickness of 550.7 ± 0.6 μm, 6.8 ± 0.9 keratocytes, and 16.2 ± 1.4 inflammatory cells, whereas by two weeks these values were 410.2 ± 0.5 μm, 3.4 ± 0.4 keratocytes, and 4.2 ± 0.3 inflammatory cells, respectively. Significant differences were observed between the treatment and control groups (P < 0.05). Clinically, ZnO treatment was associated with reduced corneal opacity and improved corneal architecture compared with the control group. The findings suggest that topical ZnO nanoparticles may promote corneal repair and reduce inflammatory and fibrotic changes following acute corneal injury. Further studies are warranted to establish their safety, optimal dosage, and molecular mechanisms of action in corneal wound healing.