to realize 3D printable eye tissue To assess the underlying mechanisms Age-related macular degeneration and other eye diseases. This is the goal towards which a study published in the journal was directed ways of nature, conducted by scientists from National Eye Institute (NEI)part of National Institutes of Health. The team led Kapil Bharti, using a group of cells that make up the outer retinal blood barrier, the eye tissue that supports the light-sensitive photoreceptors in the retina. The authors show that this approach can provide a patient-derived prosthetic support for the study of degenerative retinal diseases.
“We know that age-related macular degeneration begins,” says Bharti in the outer blood-retinal barrier, But the mechanisms underlying disease development remain unclear due to the lack of physiologically relevant human models. Experts explain that the outer blood barrier of the retina consists of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), separated by Bruch’s membrane from the placenta, which is rich in blood vessels. Scientists add that with age-related macular degeneration, lipoprotein deposits are formed on the outer surface of Bruch’s membrane, limiting His job: Research team Three types of immature gametocytes, endothelial cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts were collected in a single hydrogel. The result obtained was used for printing Biodegradable scaffold Where cells can thrive and form a dense capillary network. Nine days later, the researchers transplanted retinal pigment epithelial cells onto the back side of the scaffold.
By day 42, the imprinted tissue reaches full maturity. The analyzes showed that The obtained substance had an appearance and behavior similar to the organic counterpart. When the experts exposed the material to induced stress, the tissues showed degeneration patterns similar to those observed in human patients. The scientists then evaluated the effectiveness of anti-VEGF drugs in treating the condition, controlling growth inhibition and restoring tissue shape. “3D printing of this support,” Bharti notes, “could facilitate the study of a wide range of eye diseases.” This work – concludes Marc Ferrer, director of the 3D Tissue Bioprinting Laboratory in a NIH National Center for Advance Translational Sciences It has many potential uses in translation applications, including therapeutic development. In the next steps, the possibility of adding additional cell types to the printing process, such as immune cells, will be tested in order to better recapitulate the original tissue.”
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