title: Review of alternative carrier materials for ocular surface reconstruction.
abstract: Severe ocular surface disorders can result in deficiency of limbal stem cells that is potentially associated with chronic inflammation, impaired vision and even blindness. Advanced stem cells deficiency requires reconstruction of the OS with autologous or allogeneic limbal stem cells. To address such deficiency, a limbal tissue biopsy is taken and limbal cells are expanded on a carrier, which then can be used for OS reconstruction. Human amniotic membrane - currently the most common carrier for transplantation of limbal epithelial stem cells - has the downsides of carrying the risk of disease transmission, limited transparency, variable and unstable quality and low mechanical strength. This article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of the established carrier materials for limbal stem cell transplantation, as well as discussing emerging alternatives, including carriers based on collagen, fibrin, siloxane hydrogel contact lenses, poly(ε-caprolactone), gelatin-chitosan, silk fibroin, human anterior lens capsule, keratin, poly(lactide-co-glycolide), polymethacrylate, hydroxyethylmethacrylate and poly(ethylene glycol) for their potential use in the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf , Germany and.
authors.forename: Yaqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borrelli
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reichl
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schrader
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Geerling
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000166:cytology*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds