A core-skirt designed artificial cornea with orthogonal microfiber grid scaffold

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Ophthalmology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Severe corneal loss necessitates advanced treatment options.
• Artificial cornea development aims to restore vision and ocular function.
• Existing artificial corneas face challenges in integration and biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and fabricate a novel core-skirt artificial cornea using an orthogonal microfiber grid scaffold.
• To evaluate the physical properties and biocompatibility of the fabricated artificial cornea.
• To assess the potential of the artificial cornea scaffold for corneal tissue engineering and neural guidance.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of polycaprolactone (PCL) orthogonal microfiber grid scaffolds using direct writing.
• Combination of PCL scaffolds with compressed collagen (CC) to form a CC/P skirt structure.
• Integration of a poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) hydrogel core with the CC/P skirt.
• Evaluation of morphology, mechanical properties, and light transmittance using SEM and other techniques.
• Construction of a corneal tissue model with corneal stromal stem cells (CSSCs) and mouse hippocampal neurons.

Main Results:

• SEM confirmed seamless integration between the PHEMA core and the CC/P skirt, with no phase separation.
• The CC/P skirt exhibited a highly porous structure, promoting tissue biointegration.
• The artificial cornea demonstrated suitable physical properties for potential implantation.
• CSSCs and mouse hippocampal neurons exhibited robust growth and differentiation within the scaffold.
• The orthogonal microfiber grid scaffold effectively guided the structural growth of CSSCs and neuronal axons.

Conclusions:

• The developed core-skirt artificial cornea with an orthogonal microfiber grid scaffold is a promising candidate for treating severe corneal loss.
• The scaffold's porous structure and biocompatibility facilitate tissue biointegration and cell growth.
• The artificial cornea shows potential as a platform for corneal tissue engineering and neural regeneration applications.