Developing methacrylate-based copolymers as an artificial Bruch's membrane substitute.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in the developed world. There is currently no treatment for the cellular loss, which is characteristic of AMD. Transplantation of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells represents a potential therapy.

Optimisation of polymer scaffolds for retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell transplantation.

Aim: To evaluate a variety of copolymers as suitable scaffolds to facilitate retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) transplantation.

Methods: Five blends of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) with poly(d,l-lactic-glycolic acid) (PLGA) were manufactured by a solid-liquid phase separation technique. The blends were 10:90, 25:75, 50:50, 75:25 and 90:10 (PLLA:PLGA).