Abstract:

Chitosan-collagen blend membranes used as cornea tissue engineering scaffold were prepared.and the optical performance,mechanical strength,crystallization degree,water absorption,hydrophilicity,micro.morpholo.gY and cell affinity of the scafold were tested.The results demonstrate that the chitosan and the collagen in the scaffold,which strongly interact with each other,are miscible,and that the scaffold is of a smooth and unif0m sur.face and a layer-ordered interior structure.Th e blend membrane has excellent optical transmittance and moderate wet mechanical properties.The culture of human cornea epiderm al cells on the chitosan.collagen blend membrane shows that the cells Can adhere well and proliferate onto the membrane,suggesting that the chitosan-collagen blend membrane has good cell affinity.Th e results show that chitosan.collagen blend membrane is a promising candidate material in cornea tissue engineering.

Key words: collagen, chitosan, blend membrane, cornea, tissue engineering scaffold, performance