the invention disclosed is a hydrogel composition for use as dural substitute , for wound closure of cleft palate and regeneration , and as substrate for cell delivery to the eye . the hydrogel is made of a copolymer of an n - substituted acrylamide , and a hydroxyalkyl acrylate , which is covalently crosslinked with dimethacrylate monomers . the swollen gel is in the form of a sheet or membrane that is readily sterilisable , being homogeneous or heterogeneous , non - degradable , non resorbable , elastically deformable , and has an equilibrium water content of at least 50 %.