Science News | Researchers Give Fresh Insight into Treatment of Blindness

London [UK], July 28 (ANI): Scientists have discovered a way to utilize nanotechnology to construct a 3D ‘scaffold’ for growing cells from the retina, paving the path for potential new treatments for a prevalent cause of blindness.

Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), led by Professor Barbara Pierscionek, have been working on a method to successfully cultivate retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells that remain healthy and viable for up to 150 days. RPE cells are located immediately beyond the neural portion of the retina and, if destroyed, can cause vision loss. 

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It is the first time that this method, known as 'electrospinning,' has been used to produce a scaffold on which RPE cells can grow, and it has the potential to revolutionize treatment for one of the world's most frequent eyesight concerns, age-related macular degeneration. 

When the scaffold is treated with a steroid called fluocinolone acetonide, which protects against inflammation, the resilience of the cells appears to increase, promoting growth of eye cells. These findings are important in the future development of ocular tissue for transplantation into the patient’s eye. 

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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness in the developed world and is expected to increase in the coming years due to an ageing population. Recent research predicted that 77 million people in Europe alone will have some form of AMD by 2050. 

AMD can be caused by changes in the Bruch’s membrane, which supports the RPE cells, and breakdown of the choriocapillaris, the rich vascular bed that is adjacent to the other side of the Bruch’s membrane. 

In Western populations, the most common way sight deteriorates is due to an accumulation of lipid deposits called drusen, and the subsequent degeneration of parts of the RPE, the choriocapillaris and outer retina. In the developing world, AMD tends to be caused by abnormal blood vessel growth in the choroid and their subsequent movement into the RPE cells, leading to haemorrhaging, RPE or retinal detachment and scar formation. 

The replacement of the RPE cells is among several promising therapeutic options for effective treatment of sight conditions like AMD, and researchers have been working on efficient ways to transplant these cells into the eye. 

Lead author Professor Barbara Pierscionek, Deputy Dean (Research and Innovation) at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) said: “This research has demonstrated, for the first time, that nanofibre scaffolds treated with the anti-inflammatory substance such as fluocinolone acetonide can enhance the growth, differentiation, and functionality of RPE cells. 

“In the past, scientists would grow cells on a flat surface, which is not biologically relevant. Using these new techniques. the cell line has been shown to thrive in the 3D environment provided by the scaffolds. 

“This system shows great potential for development as a substitute Bruch’s membrane, providing a synthetic, non-toxic, biostable support for transplantation of the retinal pigment epithelial cells. Pathological changes in this membrane have been identified as a cause of eye diseases such as AMD, making this an exciting breakthrough that could potentially help millions of people worldwide.”  (ANI)

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