title: Combination of microstereolithography and electrospinning to produce membranes equipped with niches for corneal regeneration.
abstract: Corneal problems affect millions of people worldwide reducing their quality of life significantly. Corneal disease can be caused by illnesses such as Aniridia or Steven Johnson Syndrome as well as by external factors such as chemical burns or radiation. Current treatments are (i) the use of corneal grafts and (ii) the use of stem cell expanded in the laboratory and delivered on carriers (e.g., amniotic membrane); these treatments are relatively successful but unfortunately they can fail after 3-5 years. There is a need to design and manufacture new corneal biomaterial devices able to mimic in detail the physiological environment where stem cells reside in the cornea. Limbal stem cells are located in the limbus (circular area between cornea and sclera) in specific niches known as the Palisades of Vogt. In this work we have developed a new platform technology which combines two cutting-edge manufacturing techniques (microstereolithography and electrospinning) for the fabrication of corneal membranes that mimic to a certain extent the limbus. Our membranes contain artificial micropockets which aim to provide cells with protection as the Palisades of Vogt do in the eye.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield; i.ortega@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ilida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield.
authors.forename: Farshid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sefat
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield.
authors.forename: Pallavi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.affiliation: L. V. Prasad Eye Institute.
authors.forename: Charanya
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: MacNeil
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield; f.claeyssens@sheffield.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Frederik
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Claeyssens
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D040761:Biomimetic Materials; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid