Tissue engineering strategies for ocular regeneration; from bench to the bedside

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Millions worldwide face visual impairment, with ocular barriers complicating disease management.
• Traditional treatments for eye diseases have limitations, driving the need for innovative therapeutic strategies.
• Tissue engineering (TE) presents a promising approach to enhance therapeutic outcomes and functionalities for various ocular disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and categorize scaffolds used in eye tissue engineering for ocular repair.
• To analyze the benefits and drawbacks of different scaffold types (natural, synthetic, biohybrid, decellularized).
• To provide insights into cell types, animal models, and future advancements in the field.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of recent articles on scaffolds for eye repair.
• Categorization of scaffolds into four types based on tissue characteristics.
• Data collection on cell types and animal models associated with each scaffold type.

Main Results:

• Scaffolds in TE emulate the eye's extracellular matrix (ECM), promoting cell proliferation and tissue regeneration.
• Tailored scaffolds offer advantages like bacterial inhibition, biocompatibility, and durability.
• Drawbacks include potential immune responses, poor integration, complex manufacturing, and variable degradation rates.

Conclusions:

• Tissue engineering scaffolds show significant potential in treating eye diseases compared to conventional methods.
• Further research is needed to overcome challenges related to immune response, integration, manufacturing, and degradation.
• The next decade holds potential for significant advancements in eye regenerative treatments using TE scaffolds.