A composite hydrogel membrane with shape and water retention for corneal tissue engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Ophthalmology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Corneal transplantation faces donor shortages, driving research into tissue engineering (TE) alternatives.
• Sodium alginate (SA) hydrogels are explored as scaffolds for TE cornea due to their biocompatibility.
• Developing composite hydrogels with enhanced properties is crucial for successful TE cornea applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a composite hydrogel with a sodium alginate (SA) fiber skeleton and gelatin surface modification for enhanced water retention.
• To evaluate the physical, mechanical, and cytocompatibility properties of the novel SA-gelatin hydrogel.
• To assess the potential of the SA-gelatin hydrogel as a scaffold for human corneal stromal fibroblasts (HCSFs) in cornea regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a composite hydrogel using SA fiber skeleton and gelatin surface modification.
• Characterization of hydrogel properties: light transmittance, water retention, swelling, and tensile mechanical strength.
• In vitro cytocompatibility testing using keratinocytes and assessment of HCSF adhesion and spreading on the hydrogel surface.

Main Results:

• The SA-gelatin hydrogel exhibited favorable light transmittance, water retention, and swelling properties.
• Mechanical testing indicated suitable tensile properties for potential corneal applications.
• Cytocompatibility assays demonstrated good cell viability, and HCSF adhesion and spreading were significantly enhanced on the SA-gelatin hydrogel.

Conclusions:

• The developed SA-gelatin composite hydrogel offers a promising scaffold for tissue engineering (TE) cornea.
• The combination of SA's structural support and gelatin's water retention enhances biomaterial performance.
• This composite hydrogel represents a viable cornea equivalent with potential to address donor scarcity in transplantation.