In this study we designed and prepared a suitable scaffold as a promising biomaterial for cornea application.

We prepared a composite included the transparent Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) hydrogel in center which was surrounded by bacterial cellulose (BC)-PVA-nano hydroxy appetite (nHAP) skirt. Characterization was carried out by by Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron Microscopy (SEM). Biocompatibility of the prepared samples was tested by human corneal keratocytes cultured on scaffold using MTT assay.

ATR of skirt (BC-PVA-nHA) showed the characteristic peaks of BC, PVA and HA. The characteristic peaks related to BC, PVA and nHAP were seen. SEM image of interface between center and skirt showed no distance and separation which is a good advantage of this method. The cell results confirmed that samples were biocompatible.

This method of preparation led us to solve the problem of separation between center and skirt. The cell results showed biocompatibility but more evaluation for better cell responses by controlling the pore sizes of skirt is under evaluation. Further investigations like in vivo tests in animal models are also needed.