The formation of a functional retinal pigment epithelium occurs on porous polytetrafluoroethylene substrates independently of the surface chemistry

Kearns, VR ORCID: 0000-0003-1426-6048, Tasker, J, Zhuola, , Akhtar, R ORCID: 0000-0002-7963-6874, Bachhuka, A, Vasilev, K, Sheridan, C ORCID: 0000-0003-0100-9587 and Williams, R ORCID: 0000-0002-1954-0256 (2017) The formation of a functional retinal pigment epithelium occurs on porous polytetrafluoroethylene substrates independently of the surface chemistry. Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 28 (8). 124-.

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Abstract

Subretinal transplantation of functioning retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells may have the potential to preserve or restore vision in patients affected by blinding diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). One of the critical steps in achieving this is the ability to grow a functioning retinal pigment epithelium, which may need a substrate on which to grow and to aid transplantation. Tailoring the physical and chemical properties of the substrate should help the engineered tissue to function in the long term. The purpose of the study was to determine whether a functioning monolayer of RPE cells could be produced on expanded polytetrafluoroethylene substrates modified by either an ammonia plasma treatment or an n-Heptylamine coating, and whether the difference in surface chemistries altered the extracellular matrix the cells produced. Primary human RPE cells were able to form a functional, cobblestone monolayer on both substrates, but the formation of an extracellular matrix to exhibit a network structure took months, whereas on non-porous substrates with the same surface chemistry, a similar appearance was observed after a few weeks. This study suggests that the surface chemistry of these materials may not be the most critical factor in the development of growth of a functional monolayer of RPE cells as long as the cells can attach and proliferate on the surface. This has important implications in the design of strategies to optimise the clinical outcomes of subretinal transplant procedures.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Cells, Cultured, Extracellular Matrix, Humans, Polytetrafluoroethylene, Tissue Culture Techniques, Tissue Engineering, Materials Testing, Cell Communication, Cell Proliferation, Surface Properties, Porosity, Tissue Scaffolds, Retinal Pigment Epithelium, Primary Cell Culture
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	28 Jun 2017 14:00
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2023 07:02
DOI:	10.1007/s10856-017-5926-3
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3008171