PATTERNED EXTRACELLULAR TOPOGRAPHICAL CUES FOR CORNEAL ENDOTHELIAL MONOLAYER REGENERATION

Abstract

Cornea is one of the most transplanted tissues in the world. The most common indication for corneal transplantation is corneal endothelium dysfunction. Donor cornea is the only available solution for endothelium dysfunction patients. The donor cornea shortage presents huge challenges for the ever-growing patients in need of donor corneal transplants. Consequently, alternative treatments such as cell regenerative therapies and tissue-engineered monolayer by using in-vitro cultivated primary human corneal endothelial cells are being investigated. This thesis examined the importance of patterned extracellular topographical cues for the in-vitro cultivation of HCECs and investigated their use in corneal cell regenerative therapies and tissue engineered monolayer. Furthermore, a natural biopolymer hydrogel was designed and a generic method was developed to pattern the hydrogel films with micro- and nano-topographical cues. These patterned hydrogel films were studied as an implantable cell-carrier device for the formation and transplantation of functionally improved HCEC monolayer.