Novel Strategies for the Improvement of Stem Cells' Transplantation in Degenerative Retinal Diseases.
Currently, there is no cure for the permanent vision loss caused by degenerative retinal diseases. One of the novel therapeutic strategies aims at the development of stem cells (SCs) based neuroprotective and regenerative medicine. The main sources of SCs for the treatment of retinal diseases are the embryo, the bone marrow, the region of neuronal genesis, and the eye. The success of transplantation depends on the origin of cells, the route of administration, the local microenvironment, and the proper combinative formula of growth factors. The feasibility of SCs based therapies for degenerative retinal diseases was proved in the preclinical setting. However, their translation into the clinical realm is limited by various factors: the immunogenicity of the cells, the stability of the cell phenotype, the predilection of SCs to form tumors in situ, the abnormality of the microenvironment, and the association of a synaptic rewiring. To improve SCs based therapies, nanotechnology offers a smart delivery system for biomolecules, such as growth factors for SCs implantation and differentiation into retinal progenitors. This review explores the main advances in the field of retinal transplantology and applications of nanotechnology in the treatment of retinal diseases, discusses the challenges, and suggests new therapeutic approaches in retinal transplantation.
Department of Ophthalmology, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babeș Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Simona Delia
SD
Nicoară
Department of Histology, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 8 Victor Babeș Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Sergiu
S
Șușman
"Ion Chiricuță" Institute of Oncology, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Radiobiology, 34-36 Ion Creangă Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Oana
O
Tudoran
"Ion Chiricuță" Institute of Oncology, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Radiobiology, 34-36 Ion Creangă Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Otilia
O
Bărbos
"Ion Chiricuță" Institute of Oncology, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Radiobiology, 34-36 Ion Creangă Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Gabriela
G
Cherecheș
Nanobiophotonics and Laser Microspectroscopy Center, Interdisciplinary Research Institute on Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, 42 Treboniu Laurian Street, 400271 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Department of Biomolecular Physics, Faculty of Physics, Babeș-Bolyai University, 1 Mihail Kogalniceanu Street, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Simion
S
Aștilean
Nanobiophotonics and Laser Microspectroscopy Center, Interdisciplinary Research Institute on Bio-Nano-Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University, 42 Treboniu Laurian Street, 400271 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Monica
M
Potara
"Ion Chiricuță" Institute of Oncology, Laboratory of Cell Biology and Radiobiology, 34-36 Ion Creangă Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Olga
O
Sorițău