Synthetic vs natural scaffolds for human limbal stem cells

Abstract

AimTo investigate the impact of synthetic electrospun polyurethane (PU) and polycaprolactone (PCL) nanoscaffolds, before and after hydrolytic surface modification, on viability and differentiation of cultured human eye epithelial cells, in comparison with natural scaffolds: fibrin and human amniotic membrane.MethodsHuman placenta was taken at elective cesarean delivery. Fibrin scaffolds were prepared from commercial fibrin glue kits. Nanoscaffolds were fabricated by electrospinning. Limbal cells were isolated from surpluses of human cadaveric cornea and seeded on feeder 3T3 cells. The scaffolds used for viability testing and immunofluorescence analysis were amniotic membrane, fibrin, PU, and PCL nanoscaffolds, with or without prior NaOH treatment.ResultsScanning electron microscope photographs of all tested scaffolds showed good colony spreading of seeded limbal cells. There was a significant difference in viability performance between cells with highest viability cultured on tissue culture plastic and cells cultured on all other scaffolds. On the other hand, electrospun PU, PCL, and electrospun PCL treated with NaOH had more than 80% of limbal cells positive for stem cell marker p63 compared to only 27%of p63 positive cells on fibrin.ConclusionNatural scaffolds, fibrin and amniotic membrane, showed better cell viability than electrospun scaffolds. On the contrary, high percentages of p63 positive cells obtained on these scaffolds still makes them good candidates for efficient delivery systems for therapeutic purposes.

Poly(ε-caprolactone) Titanium Dioxide and Cefuroxime Antimicrobial Scaffolds for Cultivation of Human Limbal Stem Cells

“…The variation in the response of the micro TiO 2 based scaffolds, is generally related to the particles possible inhomogeneous deposition on the surface of the scaffolds, due to its agglomerations, Figure 3 e, formation during the sonication process. To lessen the consequence of serious postoperative infections, systemic and topical antibiotics can be applied postoperatively but that has downsides [ 66 , 67 ]. Systemic administration effects the whole organism but has limited capacity to reach target site.…”

Nanocarriers, Progenitor Cells, Combinational Approaches, and New Insights on the Retinal Therapy

“…Consequently, they may possess the potential to restore vision by replacing dead photoreceptors and RPE cells in atrophic AMD and RP, and dying retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in glaucoma and other ocular nerve atrophies [ 79 ]. Alternatively, there are limitations to the promise of stem cells, and yet there are no FDA-approved stem cell therapies for retinal disease [ 80 ]. Experimental studies have shown that MSCs differentiated into RPE-like cells with similar morphological features that could replace damaged cells when applied to damaged retinas, and this retreatment was well tolerated, with no intraocular inflammation or proliferation [ 81 ].…”

Propagation of limbal stem cells on polycaprolactone and polycaprolactone/gelatin fibrous scaffolds and transplantation in animal model

“…16 Gel is a readily available and inexpensive natural polymer characterized by low toxicity and inflammatory response. 17 However, there are controversial results on the effect of PCL/Gel blend on different cell types. In some studies, it was reported that PCL blending with Gel may enhance cell adherence.…”