Researchers in Singapore have made a Bio-functional Mhermogel to Prevent Scarring of the Retina

Researchers in Singapore have made a Bio-functional Mhermogel to Prevent Scarring of the Retina

Scientists in Singapore have made a bio-functional thermogel, which is a type of synthetic polymer, to stop scarring of the retina caused by surgery that didn't work to fix a retinal detachment. Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) happens when scarring on the retina keeps the retina from healing and falling back into place. This is the cause of more than 75% of failed retinal detachment surgeries, and if it isn't fixed, it can cause vision loss or blindness.

At the moment, the only way to treat PVR is through surgery, which removes these scar membranes but doesn't guarantee full vision recovery. This work shows how synthetic polymers can be used alone to change how cells behave, and for the first time, it offers a new therapy based on thermogels to prevent scarring in the retina. The team behind the development comes from A*STAR's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) and Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI).

In a pre-clinical model that looks like a human disease, the research team showed that a bio-functional thermogel alone can stop retinal scarring. Using retinal cells, the team saw that the thermogel stopped the scar membranes from forming by changing the ways cells act, such as how they divide and move. Using genome-wide transcriptomic analysis to look at how genes are expressed in cells, they found that the thermogel turned on a protein called nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), which started a chain of chemical reactions that stopped scarring.

Sponsored Links:

1. Wonder Leaf CBD Oil
2. Wonder Leaf CBD Oil Reviews
3. Wonder Leaf CBD Oil USA Customer Reviews
4. Wonder Leaf CBD Oil USA Reviews

 

Details:

https://techplanet.today/post/wonder-leaf-cbd-oil-2022
https://www.facebook.com/Wonder-Leaf-CBD-Oil-110124458422628

Our study offers insight into how synthetic polymers no longer function merely as inert drug carriers. It challenges the conventional belief that the use of a small molecule drug is always required to achieve a therapeutic effect. Beyond ophthalmology, this unique bio-functionality of the thermogel can also be applied to other diseases such as orthopedics where intra-articular joint scarring might be a problem."

Dr Su Xinyi, Senior Principal Investigator and Division Director at A*STAR's IMCB, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

"When we first made this biofunctional thermogel at IMRE, we knew it was a big step toward making biodegradable polymers for the next generation. Because the material is biocompatible and can look like and act like vitreous, it can be used for many other biomedical purposes "Prof. Loh Xian Jun, who is the Executive Director of IMRE at A*STAR, said this.

The thermogel is currently being sold by Vitreogel Innovations Inc., a spin-off company from A*STAR that focuses on making polymer-based medicines for eye problems. The ISO 13485 (Medical Device Quality Systems) certified company Vitreogel Innovations Inc. is making a clinical grade version of the polymer for first-in-man clinical trials.

Building on this work, the team will continue to use other disease models to test the safety and effectiveness of this polymer for repairing retinal detachments and preventing PVR. Through their work, the team hopes to design the next generation of polymers with specific chemical changes to make cells act in certain ways and find other uses for thermogels besides ophthalmology.