Fig. 3

Tissue-Engineered Approaches for In Vitro Modeling of AMD. A A 2D coculture model of human RPE cells and primate choroidal endothelial cells (RF/6A) based on Transwell. (a) RF/6A cells were seeded on the bottom side of the laminin-coated PCL scaffolds and transwell inserts and (b) then cocultured with RPE on the opposite (top) side from day 6 before samples were collected and (c) fixed for further analysis at day 20 [62]. B PRs become polarized when seeded into the micro-structured scaffold. (a) 3D top and bottom views of the scaffold with seeded PRs reveal processes extending through the microchannels. 3D renderings are 142 µm × 142 µm × 28 µm. (b-d) 3D side view of the seeded cells shows that PR axons are primed for synapse formation via the expression of VGLUT1 on PR axon terminals (arrowheads). 3D image is 100 µm × 55 µm × 23 µm. [75]. C Neovascularization assay in 3D hydrogel which shows the effects of anti-hVEGF monoclonal antibodies (mAb), anti-hPDGF-B mAb, its combination and axitinib (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor). The sprouts in green are endothelial cells and sprouts in red are pericytes had similar architecture [76]. D Microfluidic retina-on-a-chip model. (a) Schematic representation of the human retinal composition and cell types in vivo. (b) Photo (left) of the retina-on-a-chip and (right) representation of the photoreceptor and RPE interaction. (c) RPE cells are seeded into the device, (d) forming a densely packed monolayer after 24 h of culture. (e) Retinal organoids (ROs) and the hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel are directly loaded from the top into the well and onto the RPE [63]. Scale bars: (D) c, 500 µm; d, 80 µm; e, 400 µm. Figures were adapted with permission from [62, 63, 75, 76]