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Keynote lecture focuses on latest outcomes, new developments of corneal regeneration
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ATHENS, Greece — One of the keynote lectures during Cornea Day at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons winter meeting focused on corneal regeneration, from limbal stem cell transplantation to the latest tissue engineering approaches for ocular surface reconstruction.
Since the first paper on the topic was published in 1997, several protocols for limbal stem cell culture and transplantation were developed.
Marie-José Tassignon
“In Antwerp, we have standardized the use of culture media free of animal products and a manipulation-free surgical technique, obtaining GMP accreditation for our laboratory in 2014,” Marie-José Tassignon, MD, PhD, said.
In phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, anatomical success was obtained in 14 out of 21 patients, nine of which also obtained functional success. Overall success at 24 months was 67%, but long-term follow-up over 4.5 years showed a reduced rate.
“Even with good primary results, we must be prepared to see a decrease over time. However, our group was a very heterogeneous group with bilateral and unilateral cases, with some very severe cases and many comorbidities. We need more proper classification and criteria,” Tassignon said.
A new line of research is aimed at developing a biomimetic artificial cornea obtained from collagen, colonized corneal-derived mesenchymal stem cells and 3-D printing.
“For an artificial cornea, we also need an endothelium and an epithelium. We have obtained a grant to cultivate endothelium stem cells, using the lens capsule as a scaffold. The idea is to get a composite graft to position in the inner side of the cornea after having removed the endothelial layer of the host,” Tassignon said.
A third project is to use human collagen nano-scaffold structures and epithelial stem cells for regenerating the anterior cornea.
“Results are very beautiful. Our team has joined other teams in Sweden, Germany and Israel, and research is ongoing,” Tassignon said. – by Michela Cimberle
Disclosure: Tassignon reports that this research is funded by the Belgian government, the EU and NGOs.