Stem cell delivery vehicle has potential for future AMD sufferers

Article

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.

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.”

Recent Videos
Anat Loewenstein, MD, speaks about the 22nd Annual Angiogenesis, Exudation, and Degeneration Meeting in February 2025 and shares her global forecast for AI-driven home OCT
Sarah M. Thomasy, DVM, PhD, DACVO, a veterinary ophthalmologist at UC Davis, talks about how her research at the Glaucoma 360 symposium
I. Paul Singh, MD, an anterior segment and glaucoma specialist, discusses the Glaucoma 360 conference, where he participated in a panel discussion on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in glaucoma care.
Charles Wykoff, MD, PhD, discusses his Floretina ICOOR presentation topic, retinal non-perfusion in diabetic retinopathy, with David Hutton, editor of Ophthalmology Times
Elizabeth Cohen, MD, discusses the Zoster Eye Disease study at the 2024 AAO meeting
Victoria L Tseng, MD, PhD, professor of ophthalmology and glaucoma specialist, UCLA
Brent Kramer, MD, of Vance Thompson Vision speaks at the 2024 AAO meeting
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.