Stroma is the main refractive element of the cornea and damage to it is one of the main causes of blindness. In this study, cell loaded hydrogels of methacrylated gelatin (GelMA) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA) (8:2) interpenetrating network (IPN) hydrogels were prepared as the corneal stroma substitute and tested in situ and in vitro. Compressive modulus of the GelMA hydrogels was significantly enhanced with the addition of pHEMA in the structure (6.53 vs 155.49 kPa, respectively). More than 90% of the stromal keratocytes were viable in the GelMA and GelMA-HEMA hydrogels as calculated by Live-Dead Assay and NIH Image-J program. Cells synthesized representative collagens and proteoglycans in the hydrogels indicating that they preserved their keratocyte functions. Transparency of the cell loaded GelMA-HEMA hydrogels was increased significantly up to 90% at 700 nm during three weeks of incubation and was comparable with the transparency of native cornea. Cell loaded GelMA-HEMA corneal stroma model is novel and reported for the first time in the literature in terms of introduction of cells during the preparation phase of the hydrogels. The appropriate mechanical strength and high transparency of the cell loaded constructs indicates a viable alternative to the current devices used in the treatment of corneal blindness.

中文翻译：

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细胞加载的GelMA：HEMA IPN水凝胶，用于角膜基质工程。

基质是角膜的主要屈光元件，对其损害是失明的主要原因之一。在这项研究中，制备了甲基丙烯酸明胶（GelMA）和聚（甲基丙烯酸2-羟乙酯）（pHEMA）（8：2）互穿网络（IPN）互穿网络（IPN）水凝胶的细胞负载水凝胶，作为角膜基质替代物，并进行了原位和体外测试。在结构中添加pHEMA可以显着提高GelMA水凝胶的压缩模量（分别为6.53和155.49 kPa）。通过活死分析和NIH Image-J程序计算，超过90％的基质角质形成细胞在GelMA和GelMA-HEMA水凝胶中具有活力。细胞在水凝胶中合成了代表性的胶原蛋白和蛋白聚糖，表明它们保留了其角膜细胞功能。在孵育的三周内，细胞加载的GelMA-HEMA水凝胶的透明度在700 nm处显着提高了90％，可与天然角膜的透明度相提并论。载有细胞的GelMA-HEMA角膜基质模型是新颖的，并且在水凝胶制备阶段引入细胞方面在文献中首次报道。装载细胞的构建体的合适的机械强度和高透明度表明可替代目前用于治疗角膜盲的装置。载有细胞的GelMA-HEMA角膜基质模型是新颖的，并且在水凝胶制备阶段引入细胞方面在文献中首次报道。装载细胞的构建体的合适的机械强度和高透明度表明可替代目前用于治疗角膜盲的装置。载有细胞的GelMA-HEMA角膜基质模型是新颖的，在水凝胶制备阶段引入细胞方面，这在文献中是首次报道。装载细胞的构建体的合适的机械强度和高透明度表明可替代目前用于治疗角膜盲的装置。