Martina Knezevic

The aim of this project, funded by the German Research Foundation, is to develop patient-specific tissue replacement that can be used to treat diseases of the eye surface. Cell sheets from primary corneal stromal cells^1,2 are cultivated on microstructured substrates that have been produced by femtosecond laser ablation and coated with thermoresponsive polymers.³ The research efforts focus on developing an optimal method for producing transparent and stable sheets as well as on the cell biological characterization of the tissue constructs. In addition, the biocompatibility of the cell sheets produced is being investigated in a mouse model. Furthermore, a bioreactor system is to be developed to enable standardized and GMP-compliant production of corneal replacement tissue.

RE 2596/7-3 Development of a GMP-compliant, biocompatible corneal stromal tissue for ocular surface reconstruction

         AG Schrader                                     AG Lotz
         AG Mertsch

References
1.   Grobe GM and Reichl S. Characterization of vitamin C-induced cell sheets formed from primary and immortalized human corneal stromal cells for tissue engineering applications. Cells Tissues Organs 2013; 197: 283–297.

2.   Hasenzahl M, Müsken M, Mertsch S, et al. Cell sheet technology: Influence of culture conditions on in vitro-cultivated corneal stromal tissue for regenerative therapies of the ocular surface. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater 2021; 109: 1488–1504.

3.   Laporte A and Weinhart M. Das Potenzial responsiver Materialien für die künstliche Gewebezüchtung. Biospektrum 2023; 29: 733–735.