Advanced Surgical Technique Enhances Cell Therapy for Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Animal Studies

Researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed an innovative surgical method aimed at improving the implantation of tissue grafts in the retina, offering promising potential for treating dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This progressive technique involves a specially designed surgical clamp that enables the precise placement of multiple tissue grafts within the eye, all while maintaining optimal intraocular pressure and minimizing tissue damage.

Dry AMD, a leading cause of vision loss among older adults, is characterized by the degeneration of light-sensitive cells in the retina, especially the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Current therapies focus on slowing progression rather than reversing damage. To restore retinal function, scientists are exploring grafts of lab-grown tissues derived from patient stem cells, particularly RPE cells that support photoreceptors.

Historically, surgeons could implant only a single graft, limiting treatment scope and complicating comparative studies in animal models. The new surgical approach addresses these limitations by allowing the insertion of multiple grafts in succession, thus enabling direct comparison of different tissue types within a single eye model.

In experiments, the research team placed two types of grafts in animals with AMD-like retinal lesions: one consisting of RPE cells on biodegradable scaffolds, and another being just the scaffold alone as a control. Post-operative imaging and analysis, aided by artificial intelligence, revealed that RPE grafts significantly promoted the survival of photoreceptors and supported the regeneration of the choriocapillaris, the blood vessel network that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the retina.

These promising results suggest that advanced surgical techniques could significantly enhance the efficacy of cell-based therapies for AMD. The findings also build on ongoing NIH-led human clinical trials using patient-derived RPE cells to treat dry AMD. Publication of these findings in JCI Insight underscores a critical step toward developing more effective retinal restoration therapies.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-scientists-surgical-technique-cell-therapy.html