Alginate-Based Composites for Corneal Regeneration: Optimizing Biomaterials to Overcome Limitations

The document reviewed the potential of alginate-based composites for corneal regeneration, addressing the limitations of traditional corneal transplantation due to donor shortages and graft rejection. Alginate was highlighted for its biocompatibility, transparency, and adaptability, making it a promising candidate for bioengineered corneal materials. The study explored chemical modifications and blending with other compounds to enhance alginate's mechanical, degradation, and cell-proliferation properties. Techniques such as electrospinning and bioprinting were employed to improve mechanical properties and cell incorporation, although challenges remained in achieving the required optical transparency. Various advancements were noted, including RGD-functionalized sodium alginate for cell attachment and alginate-chitosan hydrogels for limbal stem cell delivery. Despite promising results, further research was needed to confirm alginate's large-scale application in corneal tissue engineering.