The vitreous gel: a composite structured network engineered by Nature

Abstract

The vitreous body of the eye is a gel composed primarily of water and an ordered distribution of collagen II fibrils reinforcing a hyaluroran network. Its age‐induced alteration leads to serious eye pathologies. Notwithstanding extensive biochemical investigation, its assembling mechanism is poorly understood. In this paper we analyse the vitreous components in terms of general principles governing their supramolecular interaction, mesophase behaviour and collagen fibrillogenesis. This basic approach allows the selection of assembling patterns consistent with experimental data in the literature. The conclusions may provide new guidelines for advanced therapy and nanotechnological replacement engineering.

Acknowledgments

We express our great appreciation to Prof. P. N. Bishop for reading the draft and for constructive comments; also to Mrs Cinzia Bongianni and Dr Luciano Galantini for essential contributions to the assembly of the manuscript.