Posters

Comparison of polycaprolactone (PCL) and PCL:gelatin (PCL:Gel) scaffolds in ex-vivo propagation of limbal stem cells

Poster Details

First Author: M.Nejabat IRAN

Co Author(s):    F. Sanie-Jahromi   M. Eghtedari   E. Mirzaei   M. Jalalpour   Z. Asvar   M. Nejabat     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Purpose: This Study was established to survey the effect of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL)/gelatin (Gel) nanoscaffolds blends in different ratios (100:0, 70:30 and 50:50) on limbal epithelial stem cell (LESC) culture and its efficiency for limbal cell transplantation in animal model.

Setting:

Poostchi Ophthalmology Research Center, Shiraz, Iran,

Methods:

Methods: PCL:Gel solution was electrospun in 3 ratios. LESCs were isolated from corneoscleral rims of human cadaveric cornea and cultured on the PCL, PCL:Gel (70:30) or PCL:Gel (50:50) scaffolds and used for MTT, flow cytometry and transplantation in animal model.

Results:

Cytological analysis showed PCL was more appropriate than PCL:Gel scaffolds for supplying cell adherence and LESCs induction of epithelial morphology. PCL also provided a relatively more suitable scaffold in comparison with PCL:Gel(70:30)and PCL:Gel(50:50)for cell proliferation based on MTT analysis. CD44, Cytokeratin19and vimentin protein expression was confirmed in LESCs cultivated on PCL scaffolds using flow cytometry. Following transplantation of LESC cultivated on PCL, histologic analysis showed that in corneal sections from PCL group versus PCL:Gel(70:30)and PCL:Gel(50:50)epithelium was morphologically similar; however, vascularization and inflammation was significantly less in PCL group.In all three groups, stromal integrity was preserved much better than control group.

Conclusions:

Conclusion: PCL seems to be a more appropriate scaffold in comparison to PCL:Gel blends for LESC attachment, proliferation and transplantation in animal model. This finding might be promising for cell therapy of corneal diseases.

Financial Disclosure:

None