Production, Sterilisation and Storage of Biodegradable Electrospun PLGA Membranes for Delivery of Limbal Stem Cells to the Cornea

Abstract

Our aim was to produce, sterilize and store a synthetic, rapidly biodegrading membrane for cultured limbal stem cell transplantation. Membranes were electrospun from Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) with a 50:50 ratio of lactide and glycolide comparing 44 kg/mol and 153 kg/mol molecular weights (MW) and sterilized with γ-irradiation and stored for up to a year at a range of temperatures. Cells attached well on both MW membranes. The lower MW degraded faster than the higher MW membranes. γ-irradiation accelerated membrane breakdown when wet but sterilised membranes could be stored dry for at least a year at -20 °C.