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

Thomson, Heather Anne Jane, Treharne, Andrew John, Walker, Paul, Grossel, Martin Christopher and Lotery, Andrew John (2011) Optimisation of polymer scaffolds for retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell transplantation. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 95 (4), 563-568. (doi:10.1136/bjo.2009.166728).

Abstract

Aim: to evaluate a variety of copolymers as suitable scaffolds to facilitate retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) transplantation.

Methods: five blends of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) with poly(D, L-lactic-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were manufactured by a solid-liquid phase separation technique. The blends were 10:90, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, 90:10 (PLLA:PLGA). All blend ratios were validated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Samples of polymer blends were coated with laminin. Coated and uncoated blends were seeded with a human RPE cell line. Cell attachment, viability and retention of phenotype were assessed.

Results: as the lactide unit content increased pore size generally became smaller. The 25:75 PLLA:PLGA blend was the most porous (44%) and thinnest (134?) scaffold produced. ARPE-19 cells survived with minimal cell death and maintained their normal phenotype for up to four weeks.. Cell density was maintained with only one of the fabricated ratios (25% PLLA:75% PLGA). There was a consistent decrease in apoptotic cell death with time on laminin coated samples of this blend. A decrease in polymer thickness concomitant with an increase in porosity characteristic of degradation was observed with all polymer blends.

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

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Contributors

Author: Martin Christopher Grossel

Author: Andrew John Lotery

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