ArticlePolymers2026
Bilayer Scaffold for Corneal Stromal Engineering: Solvent-Cast Polyvinyl Alcohol/Sodium Alginate and Electrospun Aligned Polycaprolactone Fibers.
Article in Polymers, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
Abstract
Due to their limited functional range, single-layer engineered scaffolds often fall short of meeting the complex clinical requirements for corneal stromal engineering (CSE). To overcome these challenges, bilayer constructs that integrate complementary material properties have emerged as promising alternatives. In this study, we developed a bilayer membrane by electrospinning polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers onto a solvent-cast polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate (PVS) membrane. The dense PVS layer provided a smooth, crack-free surface with favorable physicochemical and thermal stability. In contrast, the PCL nanofibrous layer (232 ± 44 nm) exhibited a continuous, bead-free, and highly aligned morphology. Comprehensive characterization confirmed the structural integrity of the bilayer scaffold, which showed two distinct thermal transitions (~65 °C for PCL and ~225 °C for PVS), confirming good stability and minimal interfacial disruption. Functionally, the PCL-PVS bilayer scaffold demonstrated an intermediate contact angle (57.44°), high water uptake capacity (424.44%), and a high gel fraction (96.12%), along with controlled biodegradation (39.65%), highlighting its suitability for physiological environments. Mechanical testing revealed a Young's modulus of 2.60 ± 0.20 megapascals (MPa), an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 5.74 ± 0.02 MPa, and an elongation at break of 3.32 ± 0.10%, values well aligned with the mechanical demands of corneal tissue. Additionally, the construct achieved 85.01% light transmittance, essential for visual clarity, and supported measurable cell viability, although additional optimization is required to further enhance cytocompatibility. These findings demonstrate that the bilayer combines structural stability, favorable physicochemical performance, transparency, and biological compatibility, positioning it as a promising platform for further optimization toward CSE.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.