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Retinal Tissue Bioengineering, Materials and Methods for the Treatment of Glaucoma

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Aims and scope

Abstract

Background:

Glaucoma, a characteristic type of optic nerve degeneration in the posterior pole of the eye, is a common cause of irreversible vision loss and the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. As an optic neuropathy, glaucoma is identified by increasing degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), with consequential vision loss. Current treatments only postpone the development of retinal degeneration, and there are as yet no treatments available for this disability. Recent studies have shown that replacing lost or damaged RGCs with healthy RGCs or RGC precursors, supported by appropriately designed bio-material scaffolds, could facilitate the development and enhancement of connections to ganglion cells and optic nerve axons. The consequence may be an improved retinal regeneration. This technique could also offer the possibility for retinal regeneration in treating other forms of optic nerve ailments through RGC replacement.

Methods:

In this brief review, we describe the innovations and recent developments in retinal regenerative medicine such as retinal organoids and gene therapy which are specific to glaucoma treatment and focus on the selection of appropriate bio-engineering principles, biomaterials and cell therapies that are presently employed in this growing research area.

Results:

Identification of optimal sources of cells, improving cell survival, functional integration upon transplantation, and developing techniques to deliver cells into the retinal space without provoking immune responses are the main challenges in retinal cell replacement therapies.

Conclusion:

The restoration of visual function in glaucoma patients by the RGC replacement therapies requires appropriate protocols and biotechnology methods. Tissue-engineered scaffolds, the generation of retinal organoids, and gene therapy may help to overcome some of the challenges in the generation of clinically safe RGCs.

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Acknowledgement

S.B. acknowledges the Royan Institute for Biotechnology for the visiting doctoral training support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Engineering Drive, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia

    Sanaz Behtaj

  2. Queensland Micro- and Nanotechnology Centre, Griffith University, West Creek Road, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia

    Sanaz Behtaj, Yuri G. Anissimov & Maksym Rybachuk

  3. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Cell Science Research Centre, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, Isfahan, Iran

    Sanaz Behtaj

  4. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, Kanalstrasse 33, 73728, Esslingen, Germany

    Andreas Öchsner

  5. School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, QLD, 4222, Australia

    Yuri G. Anissimov

  6. Institute of Molecular Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, 119146, Russia

    Yuri G. Anissimov

  7. School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia

    Maksym Rybachuk

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  1. Sanaz Behtaj
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  2. Andreas Öchsner
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  4. Maksym Rybachuk
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SB designed and conceptualised the study, carried out the search and collection of review data, carried out data analysis, drafted the manuscript; AÖ and YGA critically revised the manuscript; MR designed, conceptualised and coordinated the study, drafted and critically revised the manuscript. All authors gave final approval for publication and agree to be held accountable for the work performed therein.

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Correspondence to Maksym Rybachuk.

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Behtaj, S., Öchsner, A., Anissimov, Y.G. et al. Retinal Tissue Bioengineering, Materials and Methods for the Treatment of Glaucoma. Tissue Eng Regen Med 17, 253–269 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13770-020-00254-8

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