Regeneration of corneal stroma has always been a challenge due to its sophisticated structure and keratocyte-fibroblast transformation. In this study, we fabricate grid poly (ε-caprolactone)-poly (ethylene glycol) microfibrous scaffold and infuse the scaffold with gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogel to obtain a 3 D fiber hydrogel construct; the fiber spacing is adjusted to fabricate optimal construct that simulates the stromal structure with properties most similar to the native cornea. The topological structure (3 D fiber hydrogel, 3 D GelMA hydrogel, and 2 D culture dish) and chemical factors (serum, ascorbic acid, insulin, and β-FGF) are examined to study their effects on the differentiation of limbal stromal stem cells to keratocytes or fibroblasts and the phenotype maintenance, in vitro and in vivo tissue regeneration. The results demonstrate that fiber hydrogel and serum-free media synergize to provide an optimal environment for the maintenance of keratocyte phenotype and the regeneration of damaged corneal stroma.

由于其复杂的结构和角膜成纤维细胞转化，角膜基质的再生一直是一个挑战。在这项研究中，我们制造网格聚（ε-己内酯）-聚（乙二醇）微纤维支架，并向支架中注入甲基丙烯酸明胶（GelMA）水凝胶以获得3D纤维水凝胶构建体。调节纤维间距以制造最佳构造，该构造模拟具有最类似于天然角膜特性的基质结构。检查拓扑结构（3D纤维水凝胶，3D GelMA水凝胶和2D培养皿）和化学因子（血清，抗坏血酸，胰岛素和β-FGF），以研究它们对角膜缘干细胞分化的影响对角化细胞或成纤维细胞的影响以及表型的维持，在体内和体外组织的再生。