Globally, there are an estimated 36 million people suffering from complete loss of vision while 216.6 million people suffer from moderate to severe visual impairment. Corneal diseases are one of the leading causes of blindness and several diseases can currently only be treated by means of corneal transplantation. However, with only 1 donor cornea available for every 70 patients, there is a huge donor shortage. The current PhD therefore targets the development of an artificial part of the cornea (i.e. the Descemet’s membrane) that can be used to treat diseases for which the corneal endothelium (inner layer of the cornea) is damaged. To this end, a membrane composed of biodegradable (bio)polymers will be developed which can be used for the transplantation of healthy lab grown cells into the eye using established surgical techniques. After implantation, the cells could take over the function of the lost cells and reverse the damage caused to the cornea thereby restoring the patient’s sight. To develop transparent membranes which are strong and compatible with the cells and the surrounding tissue, we will produce membranes consisting of two layers. The first layer will be composed of a bio-degradable polyester, ensuring sufficient structural integrity. The second layer will be composed from a chemically modified gelatin, as this material is known to exhibit excellent cell compatibility. These membranes will then be used to restore vision for patients with a damaged endothelium.