Singapore scientists have developed a bio-functional thermogel, a type of synthetic polymer, to prevent scarring of retina caused by a failed retinal detachment repair operation. Vitreoretinopathy Proliferative (PVR) occurs when the retinal scar tissue prevents the retina from healing and falls back to its place, and contributes more than 75 percent of the failure retinal detachment operation, and can result in loss of vision or blindness if left uncovered.
The current treatment option for PVR is limited to the removal of the scar membrane surgery with a maintained visual recovery. This work highlights the potential of using synthetic polymers only to modulate cellular behavior and for the first time, offering new therapy based on new thermogel to prevent retinal scar tissue. The team behind the development comes from the*Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) and the Institute of Material Research and Engineering (IMRE), Singapore National University (NUS) and Singapore Eye Research Institute (Series).
The research team showed that bio-functional thermogeling alone was able to prevent the retinal scar tissue in the pre-clinical model that mimics human disease. Using retinal cells, the team observes that thermogel is preventing the development of a scar membrane by modulating cellular behavior such as proliferation and migration. Using a broad transcriptomic analysis of genomes for cellular gene expression profiles, they revealed that thermogel activates protein called nuclear factors 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), to start a series of chemical reactions to prevent scarring.
When we first developed this Bio-Functional thermogel at IMRE, we realized it was a significant advanced step in developing the next generation of biodegradable polymers. His ability to imitate and replace Vitreous considering the biocompatability of material, making it useful for many other biomedical applications, “said Prof. Loh Xian Jun, Executive Director at IMRE BINTANG*.
Thermogel is currently being commercialized by Vitreogel Innovations Inc., spin-off a*star which focuses on the development of polymer-based therapy for optimology indications. Vitreogel Innovations Inc. is an ISO 13485 accredited company (medical device quality system) that produces a clinical class version of the polymer for the first clinical trial.
Building this work, the team will continue to test the safety and efficacy of this polymer to improve the retinal detachment and prevention of PVR using an additional pre-clinical disease model. Through their work, this team aims to engineer the next generation of polymers with chemical modifications targeted to obtain certain cellular behavior, and identify alternative applications of thermogel outside of optimology.