title: Poly(trimethylene carbonate) as an elastic biodegradable film for human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells.
abstract: Human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial (hESC-RPE) cell therapies show tremendous potential for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases. A tissue engineering approach, where cells are delivered to the subretinal space on a biodegradable carrier as a sheet, shows great promise for these RPE cell therapies. The aim of the present study was to assess whether a flexible, elastic and biodegradable poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) film promotes the formation of functional hESC-RPE and performs better than often used biodegradable poly(d,l-lactide) (PDLLA) film. Human ESC-RPE maturation and functionality on PTMC films was assessed by cell proliferation assays, RPE-specific gene and protein expression, phagocytic activity and growth factor secretion. It is demonstrated that the mechanical properties of PTMC films have close resemblance to those of the native Bruch's membrane and support the formation hESC-RPE monolayer in serum-free culture conditions with high degree of functionality. In contrast, use of PDLLA films did not lead to the formation of confluent monolayers of hESC-RPE cells and had unsuitable mechanical properties for retinal application. In conclusion, the present study indicates that flexible and elastic biodegradable PTMC films show potential for retinal tissue engineering applications. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
authors.affiliation: BioMediTech, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Anni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sorkio
authors.affiliation: BioMediTech, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.|MIRA Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Technical Medicine and Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Suvi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haimi
authors.affiliation: MIRA Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Technical Medicine and Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Verdoold
authors.affiliation: BioMediTech, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Kati
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Juuti-Uusitalo
authors.affiliation: MIRA Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Technical Medicine and Department of Biomaterials Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, The Netherlands.|Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grijpma
authors.affiliation: BioMediTech, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Heli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skottman
mesh_terms: D063566:Biodegradable Plastics / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004146:Dioxanes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000066449:Human Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D063566:Biodegradable Plastics; D004146:Dioxanes; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011108:Polymers; C059299:polytrimethylene carbonate
keywords: biodegradable; biomimetic material; elastic; embryonic stem cell; retina