title: Hydrogel membranes based on genipin-cross-linked chitosan blends for corneal epithelium tissue engineering.
abstract: Novel polymeric hydrogel scaffolds for corneal epithelium cell culturing based on blends of chitosan with some other biopolymers such as hydroxypropylcellulose, collagen and elastin crosslinked with genipin, a natural substance, were prepared. Physicochemical and biomechanical properties of these materials were determined. The in vitro cell culture experiments with corneal epithelium cells have indicated that a membrane prepared from chitosan-collagen blend (Ch-Col) provided the regular stratified growth of the epithelium cells, good surface covering and increased number of the cell layers. Ch-Col membranes are therefore the most promising material among those studied. The performance of Ch-Col membranes is comparable with that of the amniotic membrane which is currently recommended for clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grolik
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szczubiałka
authors.forename: Bogumił
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wowra
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dobrowolski
authors.forename: Bogusława
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Orzechowska-Wylęgała
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wylęgała
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowakowska
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D039823:Iridoids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D020100:Hydrogels; D039823:Iridoids; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D048271:Chitosan; C007834:genipin