Abstract
Presentation Description :
We are investigating microengineering approaches to create a human retinal tissue patch that could be used to repair the retina. As the inner retinal neurons and optic nerve that transmit visual information to the brain remain largely intact, connecting a new patch of photoreceptors could restore light perception to people with retinal dystrophy. Human pluripotent stem cells differentiated in vitro into 3D retinal organoids resemble developing retinal tissue and produce new cone and rod photoreceptor cells. Using the retinal organoids as a source of photoreceptor cells we have investigated approaches to grow polarised layers of photoreceptor cells on novel microengineered biocompatible scaffolds. These studies aim to establish an in vitro system to prepare a viable and functional photoreceptor cell patch that could ultimately be used to repair damaged retinal tissue.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.