WW Kolloquium - Prof. Dr. Dr. Thomas Fuchsluger: Protection of the corneal endothelium and biomaterial-based strategies for corneal layer replacement

Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. nat. Thomas Fuchsluger
Universitäts-Augenklinik Rostock
Protection of the corneal endothelium and biomaterial-based strategies for corneal layer replacement

Apoptotic cell death has been identified as a major contributor in corneal endothelial cell (EC) loss both during corneal storage and after transplantation. Prevention of apoptosis has been suggested as a strategy to protect EC. To achieve this aim efficient targeting of apoptosis pathway proteins is required. In this proof-of-principle study, siRNA-mediated silencing of pro-apoptotic proteins was used to achieve protection of EC against apoptotic cell death.
Posterior lamellar keratoplasty (DSAEK, DMEK) currently is the gold standard for treating patients with a corneal endothelial cell pathologies resulting in functional impairment. This surgical approach depends on the availability of human donor corneas. An artificial biomimetic graft carrying human corneal endothelium could minimize this dependency giving access of this surgical method to larger numbers of patients. Thus, waiting lists could be reduced. In this study, electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL)-collagen nanofibers were tissue-engineered with corneal endothelial cells (EC) and analyzed with regard to their potential application as artificial posterior lamellar grafts.