AMD in a dish (AID)

本项目的主要目标是成立一个研究小组来开发体外AMD模型，将不同的结构结合在一起，以尽可能接近现实生活的情况。这包括可重复的神经视网膜/RPE/脉络膜培养，结合现有的培养方法，但更重要的是开发由不同类型的细胞组成的新的、可组合的共培养系统，可以针对各自的研究问题进行优化。一种可能的可能性是组成一个系统，在这个系统中，特定类型的细胞(如RPE、内皮细胞、神经元细胞、小胶质细胞)将在一个优化的环系统中独立培养，该系统可以使用小室进行组合。这些腔室可以由各自的供应系统灌流，该系统针对每个细胞培养进行了优化。这些新的模型系统还要求在载体材料方面进行新的开发，包括人造Bruch膜。生物材料研究最近开发了3D共培养的新技术，包括生化和机械控制；这些概念将在这里实施。例如，多孔水凝胶应在结构、机械和生物化学方面设计为RPE、脉络膜和神经视网膜细胞的载体组织。将这些材料组合在不同的层中，建立类似体内情况的共培养。这些新开发的系统也可以用于从患者材料中获取细胞(例如，诱导多能干细胞)。开发的模型系统将设计为可重复性和易于操作，使许多团体能够在未来使用它们。这个项目的另一个目标是写一篇关于视网膜研究中体外模型的综述文章。

The main goal of this project is to establish a research group to develop in-vitro AMD models, which combine different structures in order to mimic the real-life situation as close as possible. This includes a reproducible neuroretina/RPE/choroid culture, combining existing culture methods, but even more the development of new, combinable co-culture system made of different cell types which can optimized for respective research questions. A likely possibility would be a component system, in which particular cell types (e.g. RPE, endothelial cells, neuronal cells, microglia) would be independently cultured in an optimized ring system which can be combined using chambers. These chambers could be perfused by a respective supplying system, optimized for each cell culture. These new models systems also call for new development concerning carrier material, including artificial Bruch’s membranes. Biomaterial research has recently developed new techniques for 3D co-culture including biochemical and mechanical control; these concept shall be implemented here. For example, porous hydrogels shall be structurally, mechanically and biochemically designed to act as carrier tissue for RPE, choroid and neuro-retinal cells. These materials shall be combined in different layers to establish a co-culture, resembling the in vivo situation. These newly developed systems could also be expended for cells harvested from patient material (e.g. induced pluripotent stem cells). The developed model systems will be designed for reproducibility and easy handling, to enable many groups to use them in the future. Another goal of this project is to write a review article on in-vitro models in retinal research.