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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
Combination of Microstereolithography and Electrospinning to Produce Membranes Equipped with Niches for Corneal Regeneration
Published on: September 12, 2014
Using poly(lactide-co-glycolide) electrospun scaffolds to deliver cultured epithelial cells to the cornea
Pallavi Deshpande1, Rob McKean, Keith A Blackwood
1Department of Engineering Materials, Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, North Campus, Broad Lane, Sheffield, S3 7HQ, UK.
Aims:
To assess the potential of electrospun poly(lactide-co-glycolide) membranes to provide a biodegradable cell carrier system for limbal epithelial cells.
Material & Methods:
50:50 poly(lactide-co-glycolide) scaffolds were spun, sterilized and seeded with primary rabbit limbal epithelial cells. Cells were cultured on the scaffolds for 2 weeks and then examined by confocal microscopy, cryosectioning and scanning-electron microscopy. The tensile strength of scaffolds before and after annealing and sterilization was also studied.
Results:
The limbal cells had formed a continuous multilayer of cells on either side of the scaffold. Scaffolds with cells showed signs of the onset of degradation within 2 weeks in culture media at 37 degrees C. Scaffolds that were annealed resulted in a more brittle and stiff mat.
Conclusions:
We suggest this carrier membrane could be used as a replacement for the human amniotic membrane in the treatment of limbal stem cell deficiency, lowering the risk of disease transmission to the patient.
