Induced Retro‐Differentiation of Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells on PolyHEMA

Abstract

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells represent a great potential to rescue degenerated cells of the damaged retina. Activation of the virtually plastic properties of RPE cells may aid in recovery of retinal degenerative disorders without the need for entire RPE sheet transplantation. Poly (2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate)(PolyHEMA) is one of the most important hydrogels in the biomaterials world. This hydrophobic polymer does not normally support attachment of mammalian cells. In the current study we investigated the effect of PolyHEMA as a cell culture substrate on the growth, differentiation, and plasticity of hRPE cells. hRPE cells were isolated from neonatal human globes and cultured on PolyHEMA and polystyrene substrates (as controls) in 24‐well culture plates. DMEM/F12 was supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and/or 30% human amniotic fluid (HAF) for cultured cells on polystyrene and PolyHEMA coated vessels. Morphology, rate of cell proliferation and cell death, MTT assay, immunocytochemistry and Real‐Time RT‐PCR were performed to investigate the effects of PolyHEMA on the growth and differentiation of cultured hRPE cells. Proliferation rate of the cells that had been cultured on PolyHEMA was reduced; PolyHEMA did not induce cell death in the hRPE cultures. hRPE cells cultured on PolyHEMA formed many giant spheroid colonies. The giant colonies were re‐cultured and the presence of retinal progenitor markers and markers of hRPE cells were detected in cell cultures on PolyHEMA. PolyHEMA seems to be promising for both maintenance and de‐differentiation of hRPE cells and expansion of the retinal progenitor cells from the cultures that are originated from hRPE cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 3080–3089, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Collective adhesion and displacement of retinal progenitor cells upon extracellular matrix substrates of transplantable biomaterials

“…This study examined the ability of biomaterial substrates used in transplantable biomaterials to alter RPC adhesion, clustering, and displacement. The balance between cell adhesion and motility is a critical consideration in the design of retinal scaffolds, as insufficient adhesion can result in cell death 79 – 81 while overly strong adhesion may adversely affect RPC morphology and differentiation or prevent cell migration needed to re-establish functional connectivity. 82 – 84 Moreover, since RPCs migrate as both clusters and individual cells during retinogenesis, 85 it is also important to know the extent to which retinal scaffolds can mimic this behavior.…”

A Promising Application of Injectable Hydrogels in Nerve Repair and Regeneration for Ischemic Stroke

“…PHEMA hydrogels have garnered attention due to their biocompatibility, tunable properties, and ability to absorb and retain water, making them ideal for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. 51 The mechanical compatibility of PHEMA hydrogel allows it to restore anatomical continuity to damaged neural structures. However, PHEMA lacks inherent adhesion or attraction to neurons, which necessitates modification by incorporating substances capable of recognizing specific biological sites.…”

Advancement in Nanostructure-Based Tissue-Engineered Biomaterials for Retinal Degenerative Diseases

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