Figure 1.

Schematic depicting the assembly of the different layers that compose the corneal tissue model. Each scaffold component, e.g. the non-patterned silk film, micropatterned silk films, and silk sponge are prepared from isolated silk fibroin and functionalized via a collagen coating, RGD-peptide, or poly-D-lysine coating, respectively, prior to cell seeding. Maturation of the construct characterized by stromal ECM deposition and innervation of the sensory nerves into the stromal layer occurs over an ideal 4-week timeframe.