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Exploiting biomaterial approaches to manufacture an artificial trabecular meshwork: A progress report
Devon J Crouch1, Carl M Sheridan1, Raechelle A D'Sa2
1Department of Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Biomaterials and Biosystems
|February 24, 2023
Summary
Glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness, involves optic nerve damage. Current treatments focus on lowering eye pressure, but tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) offer innovative biofabrication approaches for trabecular meshwork repair.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness globally, characterized by progressive optic neuropathy and vision loss.
- Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the primary modifiable risk factor for glaucoma, managed by reducing outflow resistance in the trabecular meshwork (TM).
- Current surgical interventions, including minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS), aim to improve TM function but face limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current biomaterials used in glaucoma treatment, particularly MIGS.
- To explore innovative biofabrication approaches in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) for glaucoma.
- To highlight challenges and future directions for TERM-based TM engineering.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing biomaterials and surgical techniques for glaucoma.
- Analysis of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies for TM repair.
- Discussion of anatomical and physiological considerations for in vivo TERM device development.
Main Results:
- Current biomaterials and MIGS address TM outflow resistance but have associated issues.
- TERM offers revolutionary potential for glaucoma treatment through biofabrication.
- Few TERM applications currently target in vivo TM engineering due to complexity.
Conclusions:
- Advancements in TERM research are crucial for developing novel devices to restore TM function.
- Tissue engineering presents a promising bio-engineering solution to improve patient outcomes in glaucoma management.
- Multidisciplinary efforts are essential for creating effective TERM solutions for glaucoma.
