Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Str. 2, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
Department of Biomaterials, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Biomaterials. 2014 Mar;35(9):2837-50. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.12.069. Epub 2014 Jan 15.
Tissue engineered retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) transplantation is a promising cell-based therapy for age-related macular degeneration. The aim of this work is to develop a supportive scaffold with a favorable topography to aid functional RPE monolayer maintenance while being tolerated underneath the retina. To this end, films and electrospun substrates with fiber diameters ranging from 200 to 1000 nm were made of polyethylene terephthalate or poly(L-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone), and then tested using human fetal RPE cells in vitro and transplanted subretinally in rabbits. The results indicated that RPE on both 200 nm fiber variants showed the highest cell densities, adherent monolayers achieved deeper pigmentation, and more uniform hexagonal tight junctions. Facile subretinal implantation of flat 200 nm fiber membranes was achieved by electrospinning them onto a porous rigid-elastic carrier. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography showed a reattached, slightly thinned retina overlying the implants over 2 weeks observation. Histology demonstrated native RPE variably migrated onto the nanofibers, and a reactive gliosis with some photoreceptor degeneration. In conclusion, scaffolds with 200 nm fiber topography enhanced RPE culture, showed subretinal biocompatibility, and should thus be considered for future cell-based therapies in blinding retinal diseases.
组织工程视网膜色素上皮(RPE)移植是一种有前途的基于细胞的治疗方法,可用于年龄相关性黄斑变性。本工作的目的是开发一种具有有利形貌的支持性支架,以辅助功能性 RPE 单层维持,同时在视网膜下耐受。为此,由聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯或聚(L-丙交酯-co-ε-己内酯)制成纤维直径在 200 至 1000nm 范围内的薄膜和电纺基底,然后在体外用人胎 RPE 细胞进行测试,并在兔眼内进行移植。结果表明,在 200nm 纤维变体上的 RPE 显示出最高的细胞密度,附着的单层实现了更深的色素沉着,并且更均匀的六边形紧密连接。通过将它们电纺到多孔刚性弹性载体上,可以轻松地将扁平的 200nm 纤维膜进行眼内移植。光谱域光学相干断层扫描显示,在 2 周的观察期间,在植入物上覆盖的视网膜重新附着,略微变薄。组织学显示,天然 RPE 可在纳米纤维上可变地迁移,并且存在反应性神经胶质增生和一些光感受器变性。总之,具有 200nm 纤维形貌的支架增强了 RPE 培养,显示出眼内的生物相容性,因此应考虑将其用于未来的致盲性视网膜疾病的基于细胞的治疗方法。