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Interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel scaffolds for artificial cornea periphery
Rachel Parke-Houben1, Courtney H Fox, Luo Luo Zheng
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, 381 North-South Mall, Stanford, CA, 94305-5025, USA.
Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine
|February 11, 2015
Summary
Researchers developed porous hydrogel scaffolds using inverted colloidal crystals (ICCs) for artificial cornea applications. These scaffolds support corneal cell growth, showing promise for implant integration and long-term retention.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Artificial cornea development requires porous, biointegrable materials for peripheral integration.
- Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels offer potential due to high strength and water content.
Purpose of the Study:
- To fabricate and evaluate three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds using IPN hydrogels for artificial cornea applications.
- To assess the suitability of these scaffolds for promoting corneal fibroblast adhesion and proliferation.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of 3D scaffolds using inverted colloidal crystal (ICC) templating with sequentially polymerized IPN hydrogels (poly(ethyleneglycol) and poly(acrylic acid)).
- Surface functionalization of scaffolds with extracellular matrix proteins.
- Culturing corneal fibroblasts on the functionalized scaffolds.
- Non-invasive visualization of hydrated scaffolds using variable-pressure scanning electron microscopy (VP-SEM).
Main Results:
- ICC fabrication yielded scaffolds with controlled, tunable pore and channel dimensions.
- Surface-functionalized IPN hydrogel scaffolds successfully supported corneal fibroblast culture.
- Variable-pressure scanning electron microscopy enabled non-invasive imaging of hydrated cell-seeded scaffolds.
Conclusions:
- IPN hydrogel scaffolds fabricated via ICC templating are feasible materials for the porous periphery of artificial cornea implants.
- The developed scaffolds demonstrate potential for enhancing biointegration and long-term retention of corneal implants.
- The study validates the use of VP-SEM for non-invasive characterization of hydrated hydrogel constructs.
