Engineering topography: Effects on corneal cell behavior and integration into corneal tissue engineering

Cell-material interactions are important to tissue engineering. Inspired by the natural topographic structures on the extracellular matrix, a growing number of studies have integrated engineering topography into investigations of cell behavior on biomaterials. Engineering topography has a significant influence on cell behaviors. These cell-topography interactions play an important role in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Similarly, cell-topography interactions are important to corneal reconstruction and regeneration. In this review, we primarily summarized the effects of topographic cues on the behaviors of corneal cells, including cell morphology, adhesion, migration, and proliferation. Furthermore, the integration of engineering surface topography into corneal tissue engineering was also discussed.
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Highlights • This article aims to provide insight into the potential applications of topography on corneal reconstruction and regeneration. • Discussed the relation between surface topography and corneal repair. • Reviewed the effect of topographic cues on corneal cell behaviors. • Reviewed the applications of topographic cues in corneal tissue engineering. • Discussed the underlying mechanism of the topographic effect on cell behaviors.