Manufacture and characterization of poly(α-hydroxy ester) thin films as temporary substrates for retinal pigment epithelium cells

For many disorders of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) for which there are no effective treatments, transplantation of RPE cells may provide a viable means of restoring function. Using a solvent casting technique, we have manufactured thin films of poly(image-lactic acid) and poly(image-lactic-co-glycolic acid) 75:25 and 50:50. Non-porous, flexible films with controlled thickness as thin as 12 ± 3 μm and reproducible surface morphologies and flexural properties were produced. Fetal human RPE cells were found to attach to these substrates when cultured in vitro. The films made using this technique may provide a means of transplanting allogeneic RPE cells as a therapy for a number of ocular diseases related to RPE dysfunction.