Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: It has been hypothesized that transplantation of iris pigment epithelial (IPE) to the subretinal space may be useful in the treatment of age related macular degeneration surgical removal of the neovascular complex. However, to be successful the transplanted IPE cells must assume the same morphological structure as the original RPE cells to be fully functional, namely they must form an intact monolayer. The formation of a monolayer should be greatly enhanced if the IPE cells would be transplanted as a monolayer of cells on a biodegradable substratum. Methods: To establish a monolayer on a biodegradable substratum, freshly isolated IPE and RPE cells were seeded and cultured on thin sheets of collagen type I. Cultures of IPE and RPE cells on the collagen Type I substrata were analyzed morphologically using light and electron microscopy. Results: IPE and RPE cells formed an intact polarized monolayer on the foil, which could be easily manipulated and transferred between culture dishes and onto a transplantation device for transfer to the subretinal space without affecting cell viability. The overall thickness of the collagen substratum including the attached cells was 14µm, which is approximately the same thickness as the Bruch's membrane-RPE cell complex. Conclusion: Cultures of IPE and RPE cells on a collagen substratum results in a monolayer of cells suitable for transplantation to the subretinal space.
Keywords: 308 age-related macular degeneration • 607 transplantation • 567 retinal pigment epithelium