The Study of Retinal Organoids: Development, Modeling, and Transplantation

Abstract

There are several different retinal diseases prominent within the United States including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. These three particular retinal diseases affect a total of 12.5 million people in the US alone, showing that retinal diseases are a very prevalent issue that require an improvement in the methodology of treatment. Retinal diseases can cause blindness and drastically decrease quality of life. To better treat these diseases and provide patients with proper care, it is important to maintain a proper understanding of the retina.

It has been found that retinal organoids (ROs) can be produced through the use of stem cells. When perfected, these ROs can provide advanced modeling of the retina, as well as modeling of novel treatments for retinal diseases and allow for better testing. Additionally, ROs can be modified in order to better depict retinal diseases and their microenvironments. They may also be used for retinal transplants as a method of treatment. However, ROs are still being developed and understood. Before the full use and benefits of ROs can be reaped, the differences between ROs and natural retinas must be understood and minimized. Additionally, various issues within the ROs themself must be tackled in order for their uses to become more advanced.