MODIFICATION OF CORNEAL TISSUE ENGINEERED SCAFFOLDS TO PROMOTE EPITHELIALIZATION

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Our approach in developing biomimetic corneal material is to combine multiple material science strategies for the construction of a tissue engineered scaffold, which requires a minimum 2-layer microstructure that specifically separates the anterior epithelial layer from the stromal cell layer. Additionally, novel nanoengineering techniques will allow us to screen multiple extracellular proteins (ECMPs) and peptide ratios and concentrations to determine the optical surface for enhanced cellular response. Then, covalent tethering of ECMPs and peptides to the scaffold surfaces will increase the biomimetic nature of the surfaces and enhance specific cell growth. In this project, we are integrating novel chemistry, micro/nanofabrication, and cell biology methods to first understand and then control both corneal epithelial cell-material interactions. In the previous project period, a novel hydrogel scaffold material, PAH/GMA, was developed. In this study period, we plan to completely characterize this PAH/GMA material in terms of: 1) pore size and solute perturbation/permeability; 2) surface hydrophilicity/wettability; 3) physical integrity and mechanical properties; 4) optical clarity; and 5) biological stability. Additionally, preliminary cellular compatibility studies were performed with a non-biologically relevant protein, gelatin. We will repeat the cellular compatibility experiments using laminin, a corneal extracellular matrix protein, to confirm the epithelial cell biocompatibility of our novel material.