Oral Mucosal Epithelial Cells Grown on Porous Silicon Membrane for Transfer to the Rat Eye

Abstract

Dysfunction of limbal stem cells or their niche can result in painful, potentially sight-threatening ocular surface disease. We examined the utility of surface-modified porous-silicon (pSi) membranes as a scaffold for the transfer of oral mucosal cells to the eye. Male-origin rat oral mucosal epithelial cells were grown on pSi coated with collagen-IV and vitronectin, and characterised by immunocytochemistry. Scaffolds bearing cells were implanted into normal female rats, close to the limbus, for 8 weeks. Histology, immunohistochemistry and a multiplex nested PCR for sry were performed to detect transplanted cells. Oral mucosal epithelial cells expanded on pSi scaffolds expressed the corneal epithelial cell marker CK3/12. A large percentage of cells were p63+, indicative of proliferative potential, and a small proportion expressed ABCG2+, a putative stem cell marker. Cell-bearing scaffolds transferred to the eyes of live rats, were well tolerated, as assessed by endpoint histology. Immunohistochemistry for pan-cytokeratins demonstrated that transplanted epithelial cells were retained on the pSi membranes at 8 weeks post-implant, but were not detectable on the central cornea using PCR for sry. The pSi scaffolds supported and retained transplanted rat oral mucosal epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo and recapitulate some aspects of an artificial stem cell niche.

Electrospun Composites of Polycaprolactone and Porous Silicon Nanoparticles for the Tunable Delivery of Small Therapeutic Molecules

“…Our more recent work investigated the utility of surface-modified pSi membranes as a scaffold for the transfer of oral mucosal cells to the eye. We found that pSi scaffolds supported and retained transplanted rat oral mucosal epithelial cells both in vitro and in vivo [ 21 ]. Furthermore, pSi is not limited to biological applications whereby our previous work has also shown its adaptability in solar energy conversion.…”

Rat limbal niche cells can induce transdifferentiation of oral mucosal epithelial cells into corneal epithelial-like cells in vitro

“…Furthermore, the obtained niche cells were different from limbal fibroblast cells as previously described [ 31 ]. Other researchers have used a special matrix [ 40 ] or factors [ 41 ] to achieve transdifferentiation of OMECs into corneal-like epithelium, support for which we believe requires further evidence. Although we succeeded in transdifferentiating rat OMECs into corneal epithelial-like cells in vitro, whether the same can occur in human cells is unknown and will be investigated by us in the future.…”

Tattoo Inks for Optical Biosensing in Interstitial Fluid

“…To improve biocompatibility, biomimetic materials are used, for example soft and flexible polymeric hydrogels, or porous silicones which are natural components in our body found in collagen fibers and bones, when the sensor degrades, the metabolites formed are non‐toxic and natural orthosilicic acids, which are safely eliminated from the body. [ 130 ] The use of coatings with self‐healing properties that actively respond to the in vivo environment enhances the biocompatibility of the sensor, [ 131,132 ] A novel strategy to improve the biocompatibility of tattooed sensors for monitoring glucose in the ISF was the introduction of anti‐inflammatory‐drug‐loaded alginate microspheres into the tattoo itself, creating a combined smart tattoo that releases drug but also monitors biomarkers. The drug was successfully and completely released microspheres over a period of 3–4 weeks improving not only the biocompatibility of the sensor, also its in vivo functionality.…”