Department of Ophthalmology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Centre for Innovation and Prevision Eye Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Stem Cell Res Ther. 2024 Oct 31;15(1):390. doi: 10.1186/s13287-024-04007-5.
Retinal degenerative diseases are a leading cause of vision loss and blindness globally, impacting millions. These diseases result from progressive damage to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells for which no curative or palliative treatments exist. Cell therapy, particularly RPE transplantation, has emerged as a promising strategy for vision restoration. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in clinical trials related to RPE transplantation. We discuss scaffold-free and scaffold-based approaches, including RPE cell suspensions and pre-organized RPE monolayers on biomaterial scaffolds. Key considerations, such as the form and preparation of RPE implants, delivery devices, strategies, and biodegradability of scaffolds, are examined. The article also explores the challenges and opportunities in RPE scaffold development, emphasising the crucial need for functional integration, immunomodulation, and long-term biocompatibility to ensure therapeutic efficacy. We also highlight ongoing efforts to optimise RPE transplantation methods and their potential to address retinal degenerative diseases.
视网膜退行性疾病是全球范围内导致视力丧失和失明的主要原因，影响着数百万人。这些疾病是由于视网膜色素上皮 (RPE) 细胞的进行性损伤引起的，但目前尚无治愈或缓解的治疗方法。细胞疗法，特别是 RPE 移植，已成为恢复视力的有前途的策略。本综述提供了有关 RPE 移植相关临床试验的最新进展的全面概述。我们讨论了无支架和有支架方法，包括 RPE 细胞悬浮液和生物材料支架上预先组织的 RPE 单层。检查了 RPE 植入物的形式和制备、输送装置、策略以及支架的生物降解性等关键问题。本文还探讨了 RPE 支架开发中的挑战和机遇，强调了功能整合、免疫调节和长期生物相容性的至关重要性，以确保治疗效果。我们还强调了优化 RPE 移植方法的努力及其解决视网膜退行性疾病的潜力。
