Design and Characterization of Cornea-Mimetic Composite Hydrogel Scaffolds for Corneal Tissue Engineering
X. Polymer Science and Technology Congress with International Participation (PolimerTR 2026), İstanbul, Türkiye, 16 - 18 Eylül 2026, ss.195, (Özet Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: İstanbul
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.195
- İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Adresli: Evet
Özet
Corneal injuries resulting from trauma, infection, surgery, and chemical burns remain a major cause of visual impairment worldwide. Despite
advances in corneal transplantation and surgical repair, current treatments are often limited by donor tissue shortages, postoperative
complications, and insufficient regeneration of native corneal tissue. Tissue-engineered corneal substitutes that closely mimic the structure and
function of the corneal extracellular matrix (ECM) offer a promising alternative for corneal regeneration.
In this study, cornea-mimetic composite hydrogel scaffolds were developed using human hair-derived keratin, collagen, and modified
methacrylated alginate (AlgMA). Each component was selected to emulate key features of native corneal tissue. Collagen, the principal
structural protein of the corneal stroma, was incorporated to provide an ECM-like environment and support cellular interactions. Human hairderived keratin was included as a bioactive proteinaceous component to support corneal epithelial cell interactions. Modified methacrylated
alginate (AlgMA) provided a hydrated, optically transparent, and mechanically tunable network with cornea-mimetic physicochemical
properties. The composite hydrogels were photocrosslinked using a visible-light curing system and an ocular-safe photoinitiator, followed by
ionic stabilization in artificial tear fluid to simulate the physiological ocular environment.
The resulting dual-crosslinked scaffolds were characterized through mechanical testing, swelling and degradation analyses, Fourier-transform
infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and biological evaluation. The hydrogels exhibited interconnected porous
structures, favourable physicochemical and mechanical properties, high water-retention capacity, and optical transparency comparable to
requirements for corneal applications.
The findings demonstrate that the keratin–collagen–AlgMA composite scaffold successfully recapitulates key structural, biochemical, and
functional characteristics of native corneal tissue. These results support its potential as a biomimetic platform for corneal tissue engineering
and regenerative ophthalmology applications.