Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate a new biodegradable scaffold with or without cells seeded in its surface in order to access the safety of the surgical implantation and possible toxic effects of its degradation in the normal rabbit retina.
Methods :
18 rabbits were submitted to the implantation of biodegradable PLGA (polylactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds, seeded or not with embryonic stem cells or ARPE cells, and a fourth group underwent a Sham surgery as a control. All animals were sacrificed at 30 days of implantation. Eyes were fixed with formaldehyde 4% and H& E and immunohistochemical analysis were performed.
Results :
In the pathologic analysis, no retinal abnormalities were observed that could be correlated to toxic effects of the degradation of the PLGA polymer. The majority of the samples showed signs of inflammation and disorganization related to the normal immune reaction of the host body and inadvertent surgical trauma.
Conclusions :
The degradation of the PLGA scaffold after 30 days of implantation in Rabbits was incomplete, and no signs of toxicity in the retinal tissues were observed in the histological analysis.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.