Construction of retina substitute by using tissue engineering approach

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2015

Öğrenci: AYLİN KÖMEZ

Danışman: VASIF NEJAT HASIRCI

Özet:

Millions of people are affected by retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP, night blindness). Retinal tissue engineering has potential to become a valid therapeutic approach to regenerate retina. The aim of this study was to construct a biomimetic retinal tissue substitute by using biocompatible and natural polymers and in vitro techniques. For this purpose, a retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell monolayer was formed on an electrospun silk fibroin mesh to mimic Bruch’s membrane. Results showed that RPE could proliferate and form a cell layer on the fibroin mesh. A HUVEC layer was constructed separately by microfabrication of a fractal tree design using photocrosslinkable methacrylated hyaluronic acid (HAMA) hydrogel to mimic the vasculature of choroid. To improve HUVEC adhesion in the design methacrylated collagen and methacrylated gelatin were immobilized in them using photolithography. It was seen that HUVEC could adhere only on the microchannels of the pattern and, form tubular structures at late culture periods. The co-culture studies in non-contact mode due to separation of the two cell types by the fibrous mat demonstrated that RPE cells on Bruch’s membrane could change the cell morphology, proliferation and thickness of vascular pattern that was formed by HUVECs in microchannels.