Directionally aligned nanofibrous polycaprolactone/gelatin scaffolds as durable scleral implants for long‐term ocular reconstruction

Scleral defects caused by pathological conditions or surgical complications remain a major challenge in ophthalmology owing to the lack of durable implantable materials. In this study, we developed electrospun polycaprolactone/gelatin (PCL/GE) nanofibrous scaffolds with controlled fiber orientation for long‐term scleral reconstruction. Three scaffold architectures—random, radially aligned, and uniaxially aligned—were fabricated and benchmarked against Ologen™, a clinically used collagen matrix. The scaffolds exhibited an average fiber diameter of approximately 1 μm, high porosity (96.3%–96.9%), and tensile properties comparable to those reported for native rabbit and human sclera. In vitro, anisotropic scaffolds significantly enhanced fibroblast proliferation, directional organization, and collagen type I production compared with random scaffolds. Following enzymatic degradation for 6 weeks, the PCL/GE scaffolds retained approximately 77% of their initial mass, compared with approximately 70% for Ologen™. In a rabbit scleral defect model, anisotropic scaffolds promoted smoother surface healing and reduced peri‐implant inflammation at 6 weeks without significant changes in intraocular pressure or pro‐inflammatory cytokine expression. At 24 weeks, all PCL/GE scaffolds remained structurally intact, whereas Ologen™ had completely degraded, resulting in choroidal exposure. Histological analysis further revealed that the radially aligned scaffold produced the thinnest fibrotic capsule and more favorable tissue integration than the random scaffold. These findings demonstrate that electrospun PCL/GE nanofibrous scaffolds provide mechanical compatibility, long‐term structural stability, and excellent biocompatibility, highlighting their potential as durable implants for scleral reconstruction.