Stem cell delivery vehicle has potential for future AMD sufferers

Scientists at the University of Southampton have developed biodegradable polymer microspheres which may have the ability to deliver stem cells to damaged retina photoreceptor cells to help with their repair, which offers huge promise for future AMD sufferers.

Andrew Lotery, an eye surgeon and founder of the charity Gift of Sight is working with the researchers to bring the development into clinical applications. According to a report in Chemistry World:, August 2010, the team will be establishing a method to ensure a suspension of microspheres decorated with stem cells, which will be arranged in a particular orientation on the surface could be injected under the retina at the location of the damage. The microspheres would then deliver the stems cells to the damaged photoreceptors and start to repair cells prior to the microspheres biodegrading.

David Chau, told Chemistry World: “Future challenges would include the possibility of incorporating growth factors, drugs or antibiotics into the microspheres that degrade over time to aid repair and regeneration or prevent inflammation following surgery.”