The development of biocompatible and transparent three-dimensional materials is desirable for corneal tissue engineering. Inspired from the cornea structure, gelatin methacryloyl-poly(2-hydroxymethyl methacrylate) (GelMA-p(HEMA)) composite hydrogel was fabricated. GelMA fibers were produced via electrospinning and covered with a thin layer of p(HEMA) in the presence of N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as cross-linker by drop-casting. The structure of resulting GelMA-p(HEMA) composite was characterized by spectrophotometry, microscopy, and swelling studies. Biocompatibility and biological properties of the both p(HEMA) and GelMA-p(HEMA) composite have been investigated by 3D cell culture, red blood cell hemolysis, and protein adsorption studies (i.e., human serum albumin, human immunoglobulin and egg white lysozyme). The optical transmittance of the GelMA-p(HEMA) composite was found to be approximately 70% at 550 nm. The GelMA-p(HEMA) composite was biocompatible with tear fluid proteins and convenient for cell adhesion and growth. Thus, as prepared hydrogel composite may find extensive applications in future for the development of corneal tissue engineering as well as preparation of stroma of cornea material.

生物相容性和透明三维材料的开发对于角膜组织工程是期望的。受角膜结构启发，制备了明胶甲基丙烯酰基-聚（甲基丙烯酸2-羟甲基酯）（GelMA-p（HEMA））复合水凝胶。GelMA纤维是通过静电纺丝生产的，并在N，N'-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺（MBA）作为交联剂的情况下通过滴铸法覆盖了p（HEMA）薄层。通过分光光度法，显微镜和溶胀研究表征了所得的GelMA-p（HEMA）复合材料的结构。已通过3D细胞培养，红细胞溶血和蛋白质吸附研究（即人血清白蛋白，人免疫球蛋白和蛋清溶菌酶）研究了p（HEMA）和GelMA-p（HEMA）复合材料的生物相容性和生物学特性。 。发现GelMA-p（HEMA）复合材料在550 nm处的透光率约为70％。GelMA-p（HEMA）复合材料与泪液蛋白具有生物相容性，并且便于细胞粘附和生长。因此，所制备的水凝胶复合材料将来可能在角膜组织工程的发展以及角膜材料基质的制备中得到广泛的应用。