Scientists at the National Institute of Health (NIH) have developed a groundbreaking surgical technique for implanting multiple tissue grafts in the retina, offering new hope for the treatment of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in older Americans, where the retina’s light-sensitive tissue deteriorates over time.
The new technique aims to improve treatment options for AMD by using patient-derived stem cells to restore damaged retinal tissue with lab-grown grafts. Previously, surgeons were limited to implanting a single graft, restricting the area of the retina that could be treated. This new surgical approach overcomes that limitation.
The innovation involves a specialized surgical clamp that helps maintain eye pressure while allowing for the insertion of two tissue patches in quick succession. This minimizes damage to surrounding tissue, a significant advance compared to earlier methods.
In animal models, scientists tested the new technique by placing two different types of grafts sequentially in the same experimental AMD-like lesion. One graft consisted of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells grown on a biodegradable scaffold, while the second was a scaffold alone, serving as the control.
Artificial intelligence was used to analyze retinal images taken post-surgery to compare the effectiveness of the two grafts. The results showed that RPE grafts supported the survival of photoreceptors, crucial cells in the retina responsible for vision. In contrast, photoreceptors near the scaffold-only grafts were more likely to die.
In a groundbreaking discovery, the RPE grafts were also shown to regenerate the choriocapillaris—the network of tiny blood vessels that supplies oxygen and nutrients to the retina. This is the first time this regenerative effect has been confirmed in retinal research.
This new surgical method and grafting technique could be a major step forward in the fight against AMD, providing hope for better and more comprehensive treatments for patients suffering from this debilitating condition.
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