Micromolded honeycomb scaffold design to support the generation of a bilayered RPE and photoreceptor cell construct

In-Kyu Lee; Ruosen Xie; Agustin Luz-Madrigal; Seunghwan Min; Jingcheng Zhu; Jiahe Jin; Kimberly L. Edwards; M. Joseph Phillips; Allison L. Ludwig; David M. Gamm; Shaoqin Gong; Zhenqiang Ma

Bioactive Materials (Dec 2023)

Micromolded honeycomb scaffold design to support the generation of a bilayered RPE and photoreceptor cell construct

In-Kyu Lee,
Ruosen Xie,
Agustin Luz-Madrigal,
Seunghwan Min,
Jingcheng Zhu,
Jiahe Jin,
Kimberly L. Edwards,
M. Joseph Phillips,
Allison L. Ludwig,
David M. Gamm,
Shaoqin Gong,
Zhenqiang Ma

Affiliations

In-Kyu Lee: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
Ruosen Xie: Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
Agustin Luz-Madrigal: McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
Seunghwan Min: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
Jingcheng Zhu: Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
Jiahe Jin: Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
Kimberly L. Edwards: Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
M. Joseph Phillips: Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
Allison L. Ludwig: McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
David M. Gamm: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
Shaoqin Gong: Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA; McPherson Eye Research Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
Zhenqiang Ma: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA; Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA; Grainger Institute for Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 30
pp. 142 – 153

Abstract

Read online

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) causes blindness due to loss of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors (PRs), which comprise the two outermost layers of the retina. Given the small size of the macula and the importance of direct contact between RPE and PRs, the use of scaffolds for targeted reconstruction of the outer retina in later stage AMD and other macular dystrophies is particularly attractive. We developed microfabricated, honeycomb-patterned, biodegradable poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) scaffolds to deliver organized, adjacent layers of RPE and PRs to the subretinal space. Furthermore, an optimized process was developed to photocure PGS, shortening scaffold production time from days to minutes. The resulting scaffolds robustly supported the seeding of human pluripotent stem cell-derived RPE and PRs, either separately or as a dual cell-layered construct. These advanced, economical, and versatile scaffolds can accelerate retinal cell transplantation efforts and benefit patients with AMD and other retinal degenerative diseases.

Published in Bioactive Materials

ISSN: 2452-199X (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials; Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/bioactive-materials/

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords