Journal article
Design, development and characterization of synthetic Bruch's membranes
DC Surrao, U Greferath, YQ Chau, SJ Skabo, M Huynh, KJ Shelat, IJ Limnios, EL Fletcher, Q Liu
Acta Biomaterialia | ELSEVIER SCI LTD | Published : 2017
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness, and dry AMD has no effective treatment. Retinal constructs comprising retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells supported by electrospun scaffolds have been investigated to treat dry AMD. However, electrospun scaffolds studied to-date do not mimic the structural microenvironment of human Bruch's membrane (BM), essential for native-like RPE monolayers. The aim of this study was to develop a structurally biomimetic scaffold designed to support a functional RPE monolayer, comprising porous, electrospun nanofibrous membranes (ENMs), coated with laminin, mimicking the inner collagenous layer (ICL) and basal RPE lamina respective..
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Funding Acknowledgements
This research project was funded by the Clem Jones Foundation in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Part of the physiochemical assessments of ENMs was performed in collaboration with the Queensland Node of Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF), a company established under the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy to provide nano and microfabrication facilities for Australia's researchers. We wish to thank Mr. Gene Venables, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, for his technical assistance with this project.