An Advanced Surface for the Cell Therapy of Limbal Epithelium for Ocular Surface Disease: Proof of Concept and Clinical Trials
The aim of this project is to produce a surface modified therapeutic contact lens for the culture and delivery of corneal epithelial stem cells under serum-free conditions for treating blinding ocular surface diseases. This will make use of a plasma polymer coating to support the culture and delivery of the cells to the wound bed and so offer an alternative to the amniotic membrane. Further, to conduct 'proof of concept' clinical trials of this cell therapy technique in order to establish the safety and efficacy of the therapy in comparison to the established technique of corneal epithelial transplantation using amniotic membranes.