Roles of PGS/PCL Scaffold in Promoting Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells Into Retinal Ganglion Cells

Stem cell-based therapeutic approaches have opened promising avenues to restoring vision in progressive optic neuropathies, including glaucomatous, and as such, the stem cell-based retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) replacement therapy offers a potential to replace degenerated RGCs and promote RGC axon regeneration. However, challenges associated with the successful generation of clinically safe and functional RGCs, which can appropriately integrate into the hosts’ retinas still remain unresolved. The use of polymeric tissue-supporting scaffolds is a known and tested solution to enhance the efficiency of cell delivery and differentiation process due to providing an appropriate physical environment and structural support, however, for RGC generation their application has been far from conclusive. Our study aims, firstly, to reveal a process that enables generation of RGCs from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) that is simple, straightforward and repeatable and, secondly, to show the influence of the aligned poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS)/poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffold on this differentiation process. Our findings demonstrate that PGS/PCL scaffold promotes differentiation of hESCs into RGCs, possibly, by simulating cells active environmental signalling, as well as, by supporting the growth of RGCs neurites along their lengths.