Placental-Derived Products for Corneal Regeneration: Applications of Amniotic Membrane, Cord Blood Serum, and Stem Cells: A Review.

This review addresses the utilization of placenta-derived materials, particularly amniotic membrane and umbilical cord serum (UCS), in the treatment of corneal disorders, including dry eye, ocular graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), and neurotrophic keratitis etc. Amniotic membrane (AM) transplantation exhibits notable anti-inflammatory, anti-scarring, and regenerative characteristics, which are advantageous for the treatment of ocular surface problems. The unique structure of the AM, abundant in growth factors and cytokines, facilitates epithelial repair, diminishes inflammation, and offers a supportive ECM. Moreover, UCS comprises many bioactive elements that promote ocular surface repair and regeneration, including growth factors, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and neurotrophic factors. The utilization of UCS has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in relieving dry eye symptoms, diminishing inflammation in ocular GvHD, and facilitating nerve regeneration in neurotrophic keratitis. This study focuses on existing research about the therapeutic potential of AM and UCS, highlighting their contributions to the enhancement of corneal healing processes. The combined effects of these placenta-derived compounds present a novel and successful strategy for handling severe and refractory corneal diseases, opening new pathways for clinical application and future investigation.