A Human Conjunctival Spheroid Platform for Inflammation and Ocular Safety Testing

The aim of this project is to develop and validate a scalable, fully human three-dimensional (3D) conjunctival spheroid model that closely mimics the structure, function, and inflammatory responses of the human ocular surface. The conjunctiva is a thin mucous membrane covering the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids and plays an important role in maintaining a healthy ocular surface.

The model combines human conjunctival fibroblasts and epithelial cells to reproduce the stromal-epithelial organization of native conjunctival tissue. Particular attention will be given to establishing physiologically relevant extracellular matrix components, inflammatory responses, and mucin-producing goblet cell differentiation. The spheroid format enables the reproducible generation of large numbers of uniform 3D microtissues and is therefore particularly suitable for standardized and scalable testing.

The platform will be used to investigate conjunctival inflammation and to evaluate responses to clinically and environmentally relevant stressors, including substances encountered in ophthalmic formulations and during environmental exposure. By providing quantitative information on tissue integrity, inflammation, and mucosal function, the model is intended to complement existing ocular safety methods, which primarily focus on corneal injury.

Ultimately, the project aims to establish a robust and human-relevant in vitro platform for ocular surface research, early-stage safety assessment, and formulation screening. In addition to improving the physiological relevance of preclinical testing, the model is expected to contribute to the Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement (3R) of animal experiments in ocular research and safety assessment.