Marija Zekušić, Marina Bujić Mihica, Marija Skoko, Kruno Vukušić, Patrik Risteski, Jelena Martinčić, Iva M Tolić, Krešo Bendelja, Snježana Ramić, Tamara Dolenec, Ivana Vrgoč Zimić, Dominik Puljić, Ivanka Petric Vicković, Renata Iveković, Ivanka Batarilo, Uršula Prosenc Zmrzljak, Alan Hoffmeister, Tiha Vučemilo
BACKGROUND: Limbal stem cells (LSCs) are crucial for the regeneration of the corneal epithelium in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). Thus, LSCs during cultivation in vitro should be in highly homogeneous amounts, while potency and expression of stemness without tumorigenesis would be desirable. Therefore, further characterization and safety evaluation of engineered limbal grafts is required to provide safe and high-quality therapeutic applications. METHODS: After in vitro expansion, LSCs undergo laboratory characterization in a single-cell suspension, cell culture, and in limbal grafts before transplantation...
December 13, 2023: Stem Cell Research & Therapy