Thin collagen film scaffolds for retinal epithelial cell culture

• Published in: Biomaterials Vol. 28; no. 8; pp. 1486 - 1494
• Main Authors: Lu, James T, Lee, Christina J, Bent, Stacey F, Fishman, Harvey A, Sabelman, Eric E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2007
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Biocompatible Materials; Bruch Membrane - cytology; Cell Line, Transformed; Cell viability; Collagen; Dentistry; Epithelial cell; Epithelial Cells - cytology; Humans; Pigment Epithelium of Eye - cytology; Retina; Retina - cytology; Tissue Engineering; Retina; Epithelial cell; Cell viability; Collagen
• ISSN: 0142-9612; 1878-5905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2006.11.023

Abstract Collagen films have been used in biological implantation and surgical grafts. The development of thin collagen films on the order of 10 μm thick that ensure a planar distribution of implanted cells is a necessary step towards surgical grafts for treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Here, collagen films were manufactured on a Teflon support to a thickness of 2.4±0.2 μm, comparable to that of native Bruch's membrane. Because one important function of Bruch's membrane is allowing the flow of nutrients and waste to and from the retinal pigment epithelium the diffusion properties of the collagen films were studied using blind-well chambers. The diffusion coefficient of the collagen film was determined to be 4.1×10−10 cm2 /s for 71,200 Da dextran molecules. Viability studies utilizing the blind-well chambers also confirmed that nutrient transport through the films was sufficient to sustain retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. The films were bioassayed in a RPE cell culture model to confirm cell attachment and viability. RPE cells were shown to form an epithelial phenotype and were able to phagocytize photoreceptor outer segments.