Experimental study of synthetic polymeric materials as a basis in the creation of the advaced carrier matrix for the cultivation of limbal stem cells

Purpose: to study in the experiment the properties of three diferent types of synthetic polyester matrices, to conduct their comparative assessment and determine the optimum as a carrier for the cultivation and transplantation of limbal stem cells while eliminating limbal insufciency. Material and Methods. Transparency, mechanical properties (strength, elongation at break, modulus of rigidity), biocompatibility with cell cultures of the cornea, as well as the study of the timing of matrix biodegradation in vivo were carried out. Results. The study examined the optical and mechanical properties of matrices made from polylactide-glycolide (PLG), polylactide-caprolactone (PLC) and poly-ecaprolactone (PCL). It was experimentally shown that human and rabbit limbal stem cells, as well as human corneal epithelium cells, adhered on the surface of all types of matrices under investigation, and during cultivation they retained the typical structure of actin cytoskeleton, the ability to proliferate and migrate. Diferences in the interaction of diferent cell cultures with diferent types of carriers were revealed. The terms of biodegradation of PLC matrices with a thickness of 5 μm was about 30 days. Conclusion. The results indicate that it is possible to use 5 μm thick PLC matrices as a carrier of cultured limbal stem cells.