Development and Experimental Evaluation of a Bio-Inspired Hydrogel Coating to Enhance Corneal Tissue Regeneration

Abstract

Corneal injury and degeneration remain major causes of visual impairment worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for effective strategies to promote corneal tissue regeneration. In this study, we report the development and experimental evaluation of a bio-inspired hydrogel coating designed to enhance corneal repair and regeneration. The hydrogel was engineered to mimic key structural and biochemical features of the native corneal extracellular matrix, providing a biocompatible and supportive microenvironment for corneal cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration. Physicochemical characterization demonstrated favorable transparency, mechanical strength, hydration capacity, and adhesive properties suitable for ocular applications. In vitro experiments revealed that the hydrogel coating significantly improved corneal epithelial cell viability and accelerated wound closure compared with uncoated controls. Furthermore, in vivo evaluation using a corneal injury model confirmed that the bio-inspired hydrogel coating effectively promoted epithelial regeneration, reduced inflammation, and improved corneal integrity. These results suggest that the proposed hydrogel coating represents a promising therapeutic platform for corneal tissue regeneration and may offer a viable approach for the treatment of corneal injuries and related ocular surface disorders.Overall, this study demonstrates that the proposed bio-inspired hydrogel coating represents a promising and versatile therapeutic platform for corneal tissue regeneration.