Fig. 6

Histological analysis results of the wounded cornea after treatment of ocular alkaline burn wound by 4D-CTH encapsulating rLESC-enriched limbal epithelium. a Representative images of corneal histology in the normal group, model group, 4D-CTH only group, traditionally treated group and 4D-CTH-rLESC treated group at 15 days post-burn. Scale bars = 200 μm (overview), 50 μm (closed-up). Corneal thickness (b) and relative thickness of corneal epithelial layer (c) in the normal group, model group, 4D-CTH only group, traditionally treated group and 4D-CTH-rLESC treated group at 15 days post-burn. The red arrows indicate the goblet cells in the conjunctivalized area of the untreated group. Data is presented as the mean ± SD for each group, *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001, n ≥ 3