Conjunctival Organoid Modeling Service

The study of ocular surface diseases, such as dry eye disease and ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, has long been constrained by a lack of preclinical models that faithfully recapitulate human conjunctival physiology. Animal models possess significant anatomical and cellular differences, while primary human cell cultures suffer from limited lifespan and an inability to replicate the complex, multi-cellular architecture of the native tissue. This has created a substantial barrier to understanding disease mechanisms and developing effective, targeted therapies for conditions affecting millions worldwide.

Creative Biolabs overcomes these fundamental challenges with our pioneering Conjunctival Organoid Modeling Service. Leveraging groundbreaking protocols, we generate long-term expandable, three-dimensional human conjunctival organoids from adult stem cells. These organoids self-organize to form a stratified epithelium containing the key cell types and functional properties of the human conjunctiva, offering an unprecedented, human-relevant platform for discovery and therapeutic development.

A High-Fidelity Reconstruction of the Human Conjunctiva

Our conjunctival organoids are not mere cell aggregates; they are sophisticated, functional micro-tissues that structurally and molecularly mirror the human ocular surface.

• Comprehensive Cellular Diversity: Each organoid develops into a complex, stratified epithelium containing the essential cell populations of the conjunctiva, including:
• Goblet Cells: Functionally mature and positive for the key mucin MUC5AC, essential for a healthy tear film.
• Stratified Epithelial Cells: Expressing critical conjunctival identity markers such as PAX6, KRT13, and KRT19, confirming their authentic lineage.
• Functional Mucin Production: A key hallmark of our models is the verified production and secretion of mucus by goblet cells, providing a direct, quantifiable readout for studying tear film stability and diseases characterized by goblet cell loss.
• Long-Term Expandability and Stability: Derived from adult stem cells, our conjunctival organoids can be cultured and expanded for extended periods while maintaining their genomic stability and cellular heterogeneity. This enables robust, longitudinal studies and provides a consistent, scalable resource for high-throughput applications.

A Validated Platform for Diverse Ocular Surface Pathologies

Our human-centric models provide a powerful tool for investigating a wide range of debilitating ocular surface disorders.

• Dry Eye Disease (DED) & Sjögren's Syndrome: Model the hallmark pathology of goblet cell loss and mucin deficiency. Our platform allows for the investigation of factors that lead to goblet cell depletion and provides a robust system for screening compounds aimed at preserving or restoring this critical cell population.
• Ocular Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases: We can simulate inflammatory conditions in vitro. By treating the organoids with pro-inflammatory cytokines like Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), we can model the cellular and molecular cascades of ocular surface inflammation, such as that seen in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid.
• Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis: The conjunctiva is a primary portal of entry for many pathogens. Our organoids express key viral entry factors, including ACE2 and TMPRSS2, making them a highly relevant platform for studying host-pathogen interactions for viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and others.

Accelerating Ocular Therapeutic Development

Our service is designed to de-risk and advance your therapeutic pipeline from discovery to preclinical validation.

• High-Throughput Drug Screening: Utilize our scalable organoid platform to test the efficacy and toxicity of small molecules, biologics, and novel therapeutic agents for a range of ocular surface conditions.
• Modeling Host-Pathogen Interactions: Investigate viral or bacterial entry, replication, and the host cell response to infection in a controlled, human-specific system.
• Regenerative Medicine Applications: Our well-characterized, expandable organoids serve as an ideal starting point for developing and validating cell-based therapies aimed at regenerating and restoring a healthy ocular surface.

Our Workflow

From a Dish to the Human Eye: Redefine Your Ocular Research.

Leverage the power of human-specific conjunctival organoids to gain unparalleled insights into disease and accelerate your journey toward clinical solutions.