Fiber reinforced GelMA hydrogel to induce the regeneration of corneal stroma.
Bin Kong, Yun Chen, Rui Liu, Xi Liu, Changyong Liu, Zengwu Shao, Liming Xiong, Xianning Liu, Wei Sun, Shengli Mi
Author Information
Bin Kong: Macromolecular Platforms for Translational Medicine and Bio-Manufacturing Laboratory, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, 518055, Shenzhen, P.R. China.
Yun Chen: Open FIESTA Center, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, 518055, Shenzhen, P.R. China. ORCID
Xi Liu: Beijing Children's Hospital, 100045, Beijing, P.R. China.
Changyong Liu: Additive Manufacturing Research Institute, College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering, Shenzhen University, 518060, Shenzhen, P.R. China.
Zengwu Shao: Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University Science & Technology, 430022, Wuhan, P.R. China.
Liming Xiong: Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University Science & Technology, 430022, Wuhan, P.R. China.
Xianning Liu: Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology, 710002, Xi'an, P.R. China.
Wei Sun: Macromolecular Platforms for Translational Medicine and Bio-Manufacturing Laboratory, Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, 518055, Shenzhen, P.R. China. sunwei@drexel.edu.
Regeneration of corneal stroma has always been a challenge due to its sophisticated structure and keratocyte-fibroblast transformation. In this study, we fabricate grid poly (ε-caprolactone)-poly (ethylene glycol) microfibrous scaffold and infuse the scaffold with gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel to obtain a 3 D fiber hydrogel construct; the fiber spacing is adjusted to fabricate optimal construct that simulates the stromal structure with properties most similar to the native cornea. The topological structure (3 D fiber hydrogel, 3 D GelMA hydrogel, and 2 D culture dish) and chemical factors (serum, ascorbic acid, insulin, and β-FGF) are examined to study their effects on the differentiation of limbal stromal stem cells to keratocytes or fibroblasts and the phenotype maintenance, in vitro and in vivo tissue regeneration. The results demonstrate that fiber hydrogel and serum-free media synergize to provide an optimal environment for the maintenance of keratocyte phenotype and the regeneration of damaged corneal stroma.
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