Bioengineering Strategies for Corneal Endothelial Cell Injection Therapy: Advances, Challenges, and Clinical...

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Corneal endothelial dysfunction causes global vision impairment, often treated with donor keratoplasty.
• Donor keratoplasty faces limitations including tissue scarcity, surgical complexity, and graft survival issues.
• Cell-based therapies, particularly corneal endothelial cell (CEC) injection, are emerging as alternatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent bioengineering advances in CECs injection therapy.
• To analyze cell sourcing, culture optimization, and delivery methods.
• To examine clinical outcomes and future directions for CECs therapy.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on bioengineering strategies for CECs therapy.
• Analysis of cell sourcing methods: donor tissue, pluripotent stem cells, transdifferentiated somatic cells.
• Evaluation of culture conditions, substrates, and delivery protocols.

Main Results:

• Bioengineering strategies have advanced CECs sourcing, culture, and delivery.
• Optimized methods improve cell adhesion and survival for injection therapy.
• Clinical trials indicate CECs injection therapy's potential for restoring endothelial function.

Conclusions:

• CECs injection therapy is a promising, minimally invasive treatment for corneal blindness.
• Integration of cell biology, biomaterials, and translational medicine is key.
• Further research and clinical translation are needed to establish CECs therapy as a standard treatment.