title: Fabrication and characterization of biodegradable polymeric films as a corneal stroma substitute.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biodegradable elastomeric materials such as poly glycerol sebacate (PGS) have gained much current attention in the field of soft tissue engineering. The present study reports the synthesis of PGS with molar ratios of 1:1, 2:3, and 3:2 of glycerol and sebacic acid via polycondensation reaction and tests the effect of PGS on human corneal epithelial (HCE) cells viability in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  PGS films were prepared by the casting method. We tried to fabricate PGS with different compositions and various properties as being a viable alternative to the corneal stroma in cornea tissue engineering. The chemical properties of the prepared polymer were investigated by means of attenuated total reflectance - Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis and the in vitro cytotoxicity was investigated by the Alamarblue method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The functional groups observed in the PGS FTIR spectrums of PGS with various molar ratios were the same. However, the main difference was the time of completing the cross-linking reaction. The PGS prepared by 2:3 ratio as a molar ratio had the fastest and the 3:2 ratio had the lowest cross-linking rate because of the higher amount of sebacic acid. Results of the Alamarblue cytotoxicity test assay showed no deleterious effect on HCE cell viability and proliferation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PGS is a potentially good candidate material for corneal tissue engineering because of its lack of in vitro HCE cell toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Engineering, Biomaterials Research Group, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Engineering, Biomaterials Research Group, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadhossein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Applied, Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Shaghayegh Haghjooy
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Javanmard
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Applied, Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Farnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barneh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Applied, Physiology Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mona
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moshayedi
keywords: Biodegradation; cornea; poly (glycerol sebacate); tissue engineering