Limbal Stem Cells on Bacterial Nanocellulose Carriers for Ocular Surface Regeneration

Limbal stem cells (LSC) hold great value in the treatment of blinding corneal pathologies and can be transplanted to the ocular surface with the help of biocompatible cell carriers. To this end, bacterial nanocellulose membranes are conditioned with human proteins to create a favorable substrate for LSC maintenance and prospective transplantation under the most clinically relevant conditions possible. AbstractLimbal stem cells (LSCs) are already used in cell ‐based treatments for ocular surface disorders. Clinical translation of LSCs‐based therapies critically depends on the successful delivery, survival, and retention of these therapeutic cells to the desired region. Such a major bottleneck could be overcome by using an appropriate carrier to provi de anchoring sites and structural support to LSC culture and transplantation. Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is an appealing, yet unexplored, candidate for this application because of its biocompatibility, animal‐free origin and mechanical stability. Here, BNC as a vehicle for human embryonic stem cells‐derived LSC (hESC‐LSC) are investigated. To enhance cell‐biomaterial interactions, a plasma activation followed by a Collagen IV and Laminin coating of the BNC substrates is implemented. This surface functionalization with human extracellular matrix proteins greatly improved the attachme nt and survival of hESC‐LSC without compromising the flexible, robust and semi‐transparent nature of the BNC. The surface character...
Source: Small - Category: Nanotechnology Authors: Tags: Full Paper Source Type: research