ABSTRACT
I. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 413
II. The Need for TE Corneas .............................................................................................. 413
III. Replacements for Human Corneas ................................................................................ 414
IV. Synthetic Scaffolds and Keratoprostheses ..................................................................... 415
V. Cell-Based Corneal Model Structures ........................................................................... 417
VI. Biosynthetic Matrix Replacements as Scaffolds ........................................................... 418
VII. Tissue Engineering of the Cornea: Are We there yet? ................................................. 421
References ................................................................................................................................... 421
Over the years, there have been reports of tissue engineered (TE) corneas that range in complexity
and functionality from materials and devices that are designed to restore solely the ocular function,
to those that are designed to do this by integration with part or the full thickness of damaged or
diseased corneas and promoting regeneration of the host tissue. TE lenticules are also being
designed to be implanted into the cornea in order to alter the refractive properties of the eye, thereby
improving vision. Beyond the need for vision restoration, there are other critical questions of
bonding or integration with the host tissue and epithelial overgrowth to restore the cornea’s
protective surface layer. Even more demanding, but very desirable, is the regeneration of
innervation to restore touch and hydration sensitivity.
