Optimisation of polymer scaffolds for retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell transplantation

Thomson, Heather A.; Treharne, Andrew John; Walker, Paul S.; Grossel, Martin C.; Lotery, Andrew

doi:10.1136/bjo.2009.166728

Cited by 62 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…In fact, after 7 days D407 cells had reached confluence, elaborated tight junctions and expressed the RPE’s iconic cobblestone morphology [37]. In an attempt to optimize this copolymer, a recent study fabricated 4 different polymers with 4 different ratios of PLLA and PLGA (10:90, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 90:10) [38]. In each case cellular attachment and proliferation was achieved, however only the 25:75 PLLA-PLGA polymer was able to sustain cellular division and polymeric adherence for the course of the month long study [38].…”

Section: A Tissue Engineering Approach: Potential Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In an attempt to optimize this copolymer, a recent study fabricated 4 different polymers with 4 different ratios of PLLA and PLGA (10:90, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 90:10) [38]. In each case cellular attachment and proliferation was achieved, however only the 25:75 PLLA-PLGA polymer was able to sustain cellular division and polymeric adherence for the course of the month long study [38]. Because the 25:75 PLLA-PLGA polymer was the thinnest and most porous polymer in the group, these findings suggest that the observed cellular viability resulted because of an optimization of these characteristics.…”

Section: A Tissue Engineering Approach: Potential Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Advances in Retinal Tissue Engineering

2012

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Retinal degenerations cause permanent visual loss and affect millions world-wide. Current treatment strategies, such as gene therapy and anti-angiogenic drugs, merely delay disease progression. Research is underway which aims to regenerate the diseased retina by transplanting a variety of cell types, including embryonic stem cells, fetal cells, progenitor cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Initial retinal transplantation studies injected stem and progenitor cells into the vitreous or subretinal space with the hope that these donor cells would migrate to the site of retinal degeneration, integrate within the host retina and restore functional vision. Despite promising outcomes, these studies showed that the bolus injection technique gave rise to poorly localized tissue grafts. Subsequently, retinal tissue engineers have drawn upon the success of bone, cartilage and vasculature tissue engineering by employing a polymeric tissue engineering approach. This review will describe the evolution of retinal tissue engineering to date, with particular emphasis on the types of polymers that have routinely been used in recent investigations. Further, this review will show that the field of retinal tissue engineering will require new types of materials and fabrication techniques that optimize the survival, differentiation and delivery of retinal transplant cells.

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Section: A Tissue Engineering Approach: Potential Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A Tissue Engineering Approach: Potential Polymersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advances in Retinal Tissue Engineering

2012

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“…65 Therefore, biomimetic scaffolds will be a future research direction to manipulate the delivery of stem cells into the correct diseased location of the retina. 66,67 Current retinal induction protocols were only tested on ESC and iPSC. 17Y21 Because pluripotent adult stem cells are recently discovered, 11Y14,59,60 the retinal induction protocols should also be tested on these conveniently accessible stem cells.…”

Section: Potential Challenges and Future Prospectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prospects of Stem Cells for Retinal Diseases

Lam

Cheung

2013

Asia-Pacific Journal of Ophthalmology

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Retinal diseases, including glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration, are the leading causes of irreversible visual impairment and blindness in developed countries. Traditional and current treatment regimens are based on surgical or medical interventions to slow down the disease progression. However, the number of retinal cells would continue to diminish, and the diseases could not be completely cured. There is an emerging role of stem cells in retinal research. The stem cell therapy on retinal diseases is based on 2 theories: cell replacement therapy and neuroprotective effect. The former hypothesizes that new retinal cells could be regenerated from stem cells to substitute the damaged cells in the diseased retina, whereas the latter believes that the paracrine effects of stem cells modulate the microenvironments of the diseased retina so as to protect the retinal neurons. This article summarizes the choice of stem cells in retinal research. Moreover, the current progress of retinal research on stem cells and the clinical applications of stem cells on retinal diseases are reviewed. In addition, potential challenges and future prospects of retinal stem cell research are discussed.

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“…A variety of thin and biodegradable polymer films including collagen [18e20], bombyx mori silk fibroin [21], polyimide [22], poly(hydroxybutyrate-cohydroxyvalerate) [23], poly(d,l-lactic-glycolic acid) [24] and polyurethanes (PU) [25] have been employed for this purpose. However, it is currently unknown whether these prosthetic BMs can support the normal function of RPE cells and, most importantly, whether they elicit an inflammatory reaction after long-term co-culture.…”

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confidence: 99%

A novel Bruch's membrane-mimetic electrospun substrate scaffold for human retinal pigment epithelium cells

et al. 2014

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a b s t r a c tVarious artificial membranes have been used as scaffolds for retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE) for monolayer reconstruction, however, long-term cell viability and functionality are still largely unknown. This study aimed to construct an ultrathin porous nanofibrous film to mimic Bruch's membrane, and in particular to investigate human RPE cell responses to the resultant substrates. An ultrathin porous nanofibrous membrane was fabricated by using regenerated wild Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin (RWSF), polycaprolactone (PCL) and gelatin (Gt) and displayed a thickness of 3e5 mm, with a high porosity and an average fiber diameter of 166 ± 85 nm. Human RPE cells seeded on the RWSF/PCL/Gt membranes showed a higher cell growth rate (p < 0.05), and a typical expression pattern of RPE signature genes, with reduced expression of inflammatory mediators. With long-term cultivation on the substrates, RPE cells exhibited characteristic polygonal morphology and development of apical microvilli. Immunocytochemisty demonstrated RPE-specific expression profiles in cells after 12-weeks of co-culture on RWSF/PCL/Gt membranes. Interestingly, the cells on the RWSF/PCL/Gt membranes functionally secreted polarized PEDF and phagocytosed labeled porcine POS. Furthermore, RWSF/PCL/Gt membranes transplanted subsclerally exhibited excellent biocompatibility without any evidence of inflammation or rejection. In conclusion, we established a novel RWSF-based substrate for growth of RPE cells with excellent cytocompatibility in vitro and biocompatibility in vivo for potential use as a prosthetic Bruch's membrane for RPE transplantation.

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Optimisation of polymer scaffolds for retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell transplantation

Abstract: This study demonstrates that a 25:75 copolymer blend of PLLA:PLGA is a potentially useful scaffold for ocular cell transplantation.

Cited by 62 publications

References 26 publications

Advances in Retinal Tissue Engineering

Advances in Retinal Tissue Engineering

Prospects of Stem Cells for Retinal Diseases

A novel Bruch's membrane-mimetic electrospun substrate scaffold for human retinal pigment epithelium cells

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