Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency Research (LSCD)
Limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs) are a population of cells responsible for maintenance and repair of the corneal surface. Injury or loss of these cells can lead to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) in which the cornea becomes opaque, vascularized, and inflamed1. Transplantation of cultured human limbal epithelial cells (hLE) on a carrier known as human amniotic membrane (HAM) can restore vision. However, this treatment has its challenges since clinical graft manufacture using HAM can be costly, unreliable due to supply issues, and inconsistent from donor variability. Research has aimed to develop alternative carrier methods to HAM to increase success rate of the LSCD treatment. In order to serve as a carrier for hLE cells to the cornea, it is important that the alternative method has the right optical and mechanical properties (i.e. material should be as transparent as possible) as well as the capability to expand and carry cells to the cornea.
RAFTTM 3D Culture System – Translating LSCD Research into Clinical Applications
RAFTTM 3D Culture System uses high density collagen scaffolds which are very robust and transparent. Our customers have leveraged this capability of RAFTTM Constructs to understand if they can potentially be utilized as a reliable and robust tissue equivalent (TE) to HAM.
In a study by Julie T. Daniels and her team at University College London, RAFTTM 3D Constructs were able to support optimal hLE expansion and stratification conditions as well as provide a tunable option to develop a consistent production process for an alternative method to HAM.
Watch our webinar "Overcoming Current Challenges with 3D Cell Culturing Webinar" and learn how Prof. Dr. Julie T. Daniels and her team have developed multi-layer corneal models using the RAFTTM 3D Cell Culture System.