Novel polymeric hydrogel scaffolds for corneal epithelium cell culturing based on blends of chitosan with some other biopolymers such as hydroxypropylcellulose, collagen and elastin crosslinked with genipin, a natural substance, were prepared. Physicochemical and biomechanical properties of these materials were determined. The in vitro cell culture experiments with corneal epithelium cells have indicated that a membrane prepared from chitosan-collagen blend (Ch-Col) provided the regular stratified growth of the epithelium cells, good surface covering and increased number of the cell layers. Ch-Col membranes are therefore the most promising material among those studied. The performance of Ch-Col membranes is comparable with that of the amniotic membrane which is currently recommended for clinical applications.