Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for lamellar and defect reconstruction of corneal stromal tissue using biomaterials that form a defined hydrogel structure in situ, including interpenetrating (IPN) and semi-IPN hydrogels.

Abstract: A method of bioprinting a bioink printed structure and a bioprinted composition resulting from this method is provided. Biological cells are mixed with biomaterial inks. These biomaterial inks have a biopolymer backbone with grafted thereto a first bio-orthogonal chemical group. The mixed biological cells and biomaterial inks are extruded into a support bath. The next step is diffusing crosslinking molecules which have a second (complementary to the first) bio-orthogonal chemical group, in the support bath, whereby the diffusing crosslinking molecules react via bioorthogonal click-chemistry between the first and second bio-orthogonal chemical groups resulting in covalently crosslinking the biomaterial ink into a printed structure. Embodiments of this invention can be directed towards personalized medicine and printed tissue engineering constructs, as well as drug discovery by printing complex tissue mimics or printing model vasculature for studying cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for lamellar and defect reconstruction of corneal stromal tissue using biomaterials that form a defined gel structure in situ. Such gels can serve as cellular or acellular lamellar substitutes to reconstruct corneal stroma, facilitate matrix remodeling, and support multilayered re-epithelialization of wounded corneal stromal tissue, as well delivery vehicles for cells, biomolecules, and/or pharmaceutical agents to wound sites throughout the body.