Scaffolds With Pores Improve Growth and Differentiation of Stem Cells for Retinal Cell Therapy

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - July 29, 2016 - PRLog -- Improving polymer scaffolds that promote the proliferation of stem cells for use as cell therapies to treat retinal degeneration may depend on varying their pore size. A new study, in which 5 times more retinal precursor cells grew on a porous compared to a nonporous scaffold, is published in Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers (http://www.liebertpub.com/). The article is available free for download on the Journal website (http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jop.2015.0126) until August 26, 2016.

The article "Differentiation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Neural Retinal Precursor Cells on Porous Poly-Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid Scaffolds (http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/jop.2015.0126)" describes the use of a salt-leaching/solvent evaporation process to create various pore sizes in a scaffold used to grow mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Coauthors Kristan Worthingon, Luke Wiley, C. Allan Guymon, Aliasger Salem, and Budd Tucker, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, measured cell proliferation for two weeks after cells were seeded on the scaffold and evaluated stem cell differentiation in retinal precursor cells based on changes in cell morphology and the expression of biomarkers associated with retinal development.

"Dr. Tucker and his team present foundational work differentiating stem cells with the goal of optimizing methods to restore visual function in people with AMD and other retinal degenerations," says Editor-in-Chief W. Daniel Stamer, PhD, Joseph A. C. Wadsworth Professor of Ophthalmology and Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institutes of Health under Award Numbers R01 024605-01, DP2 0D007483-01, and S10 RR022498-01. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

About the Journal
Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (http://www.liebertpub.com/jop) is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published ten times a year online with open access options and in print.  It is the only multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal providing basic and clinical research that focuses on biopharmaceuticals that have the potential to prevent, treat, and/or diagnose ocular diseases and disorders. The Journal delivers the latest discoveries in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of biopharmaceuticals for the treatment of ophthalmic disorders. Tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (http://www.liebertpub.com/jop) website. Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeuticsis the official journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (http://www.aopt.org/).

About the Publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers (http://www.liebertpub.com/)  is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including ASSAY and Drug Development Technologies and Population Health Management.  Its biotechnology trade magazine, GEN(Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 80 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers (http://www.liebertpub.com/)  website.