Sze Min Chan

Dr. Sze Min Chan

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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11 May 2025 in Biomedicines
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SCSze Min Chan
Sze Min Chan
CTChris Tsai
Chris Tsai
TLTai-Ping Lee
Tai-Ping Lee
ZHZih-Rou Huang
Zih-Rou Huang
WHWei-Hsiang Huang
Wei-Hsiang Huang
CLChung-Tien Lin
Chung-Tien Lin
Background/Objectives: Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial inflammatory disease that disrupts the ocular surface, causing tear film instability, epithelial damage, and chronic inflammation. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-exos) are promising therapeutics with immunomodulatory and regenerative properties. This study investigates the therapeutic effects of umbilical cord MSC-derived exosomes (UCMSC-exos) in a severe dry eye model, induced by a surgical resection of the infra-orbital (ILG) and extra-orbital lacrimal gland (ELG) in rats. Methods: Clinical evaluations, including tear volume measurement, slit lamp biomicroscopy, fluorescein staining, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), were performed to assess corneal neovascularization, corneal abrasion, and epithelial/stromal thickness. Histopathological analysis, immunohistochemistry, and mRNA gene expression were conducted to evaluate corneal tissue changes and inflammatory marker expression. Results: The results show that the treatment group exhibited significantly reduced corneal neovascularization compared to the control group (p = 0.030). During the first month, the Exo group also had a significantly lower corneal fluorescein staining area (p = 0.032), suggesting accelerated wound healing. SD-OCT analysis revealed that the corneal epithelial thickness in the treatment group was closer to normal levels compared to the control group (p = 0.02 and p = 0.006, respectively). UCMSC-exos treatment also modulated the expression of α-SMA and apoptosis in the cornea. Additionally, the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) were downregulated. Conclusions: These findings suggest that MSC-exosome therapy offers a novel, cell-free regenerative approach for managing severe DED, modulating inflammatory response.

8 February 2025 in Veterinary Sciences
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SCSze Min Chan
Sze Min Chan
CTChingli Tseng
Chingli Tseng
WHWei-Hsiang Huang
Wei-Hsiang Huang
CLChung-Tien Lin
Chung-Tien Lin
Doxycycline (Dxy), a broad-spectrum antibiotic with anti-inflammatory effects, is commonly used in ophthalmology but is unstable as a topical eyedrop, degrading quickly into inactive forms and requiring frequent application. To address this, gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs) loaded with Dxy (DNPs) were developed as a stable ophthalmic nanomedicine for enhancing corneal wound healing by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In this study, female Sprague–Dawley rats underwent lamellar keratectomy, and various Dxy formulations—oral, conventional eyedrops, and DNP-containing eyedrops—were evaluated for corneal wound repair. Clinical assessments included fluorescein staining, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry for MMP-2, MMP-9, and α-SMA. The DNP group (0.01% Dxy in DNPs, applied twice daily) demonstrated faster corneal thickness recovery and epithelial healing on days 7 and 14 compared to 0.1% Dxy eyedrop treatments applied twice or four times daily. DNP-treated eyes also showed reduced angiogenesis intensity and lower MMP-2 and MMP-9 immunoreactive scores, with enhanced stromal recovery and reduced neovascularization. These results highlight DNPs’ potential as a superior treatment for corneal wounds, providing effective healing with less frequent dosing and lower drug concentrations. This study supports DNPs’ potential for clinical application as a stable and efficient therapeutic agent in ophthalmology.