MANUFACTURE AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY(ALPHA-HYDROXY ESTER) THIN-FILMS AS TEMPORARY SUBSTRATES FOR RETINAL-PIGMENT EPITHELIUM-CELLS

For many disorders of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) for which t here are no effective treatments, transplantation of RPE cells may pro vide a viable means of restoring function. Using a solvent casting tec hnique, we have manufactured thin films of poly(L-lactic acid) and pol y(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) 75:25 and 50:50. Non-porous, flexible fi lms with controlled thickness as thin as 12+/-3 mu m and reproducible surface morphologies and flexural properties were produced. Fetal huma n RPE cells were found to attach to these substrates when cultured in vitro. The films made using this technique may provide a means of tran splanting allogeneic RPE cells as a therapy for a number of ocular dis eases related to RPE dysfunction.