To enhance the epithelization of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) hydrogels and provide a biocompatible alternative for keratoplasty, this paper presents a novel double network scaffold and its preparation methods, in which a cell-affinitive hydrogel was made by poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) and modified gelatin. Methacrylic anhydride modified gelatin was interpenetrated into the as-prepared poly-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate to form a porous double network to facilitate cell behavior on the hydrogels. Physico-chemical measurements such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transparency, swelling ratio, scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis as well as dynamic mechanical analysis have been performed in order to correlate the material composition with the corresponding properties. The in vitro cell assays of the porous double networks revealed that cells remained viable and, depending on the composition, were able proliferate, as was demonstrated by the deposition of gelatin. All of these results demonstrated that these porous double networks possess more advantages compared with poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) alone and improved epithelization due to methacrylated gelatin. The obtained double network scaffold could act as an attractive material for corneal repair application.

Currently, generalised therapy for traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) is lacking. Various strategies have been developed to protect and regenerate retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after TON. Intravitreal injection of supplements has been approved as a promising approach, although serious concerns, such as low delivery efficacy and pain due to frequent injections, remain. In this study, we tested an injectable thermosensitive hydrogel drug delivery system engineered to deliver ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and triamcinolone acetonide (TA). The results of rheological studies showed that the prepared drug-loaded hydrogel possessed a suitable mechanical modulus of ∼300 Pa, consistent with that of vitreum. The hydrogel exhibited thermosensitive with sustained drug release performance. In-vitro co-culture of the CNTF-loaded hydrogel system with primary RGCs also induced significant axon regeneration, with 38.5% increase in neurite length, indicating the regenerative response of the thermosensitive hydrogel drug delivery system. A Sprague-Dawley rat optic nerve crush model was constructed and applied to determine the neuroprotective and regenerative capacities of the system. The results demonstrated that a single intravitreal injection of the drug-loaded hydrogel (PLGA-PEG-PLGA + TA or PLGA-PEG-PLGA + CNTF) significantly increased RGC survival at both 14 and 28 days. The RGC survival rate was 31.05 ± 1.41% for the drug-loaded hydrogel system (the control group was 16.79 ± 1.50%) at day 28. These findings suggest that the injectable drug-loaded thermosensitive hydrogel delivery system is a promising therapeutic tool for treating optic nerve degeneration.