Sequential Fabrication of a Three-Layer Retina-like Structure

Abstract

Tissue engineering is considered a promising approach to treating advanced degenerative maculopathies such as nonexudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness worldwide. The retina consists of several hierarchical tissue layers, each of which is supported by a layer underneath. Each of these layers has a different morphology and requires distinct conditions for proper assembly. In fact, a prerequisite step for the assembly of each of these layers is the organization of the layer underneath. Advanced retinal degeneration includes degeneration of the other retina layers, including the choroid, the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), and the photoreceptors. Here, we report a step-by-step fabrication process of a three-layer retina-like structure. The process included the 3D printing of a choroid-like structure in an extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel, followed by deposition of the RPE monolayer. After the formation of the blood vessel–RPE interface, the photoreceptor cells were deposited to interact with the RPE layer. At the end of the fabrication process, each layer was characterized for its morphology and expression of specific markers, and the integration of the three-layer retina was evaluated. We envision that such a retina-like structure may be able to attenuate the deterioration of a degenerated retina and improve engraftment and regeneration. This retinal implant may potentially be suitable for a spectrum of macular degenerative diseases for which there are currently no cures and may save millions from complete blindness.