BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To develop a safe and efficient surgical procedure for subretinal implantation into porcine eyes of a human embryonic stem cell-derived retinal pigmented epithelium (hESC-RPE) monolayer seeded onto a Parylene-C scaffold. This implant is referred to as CPCB-RPE1.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultrathin Parylene-C scaffolds were seeded with hESC-RPE and surgically implanted into the subretinal space of Yucatan mini pigs (n = 8). The surgery consisted of pars plana vitrectomy, induction of a limited retinal detachment, and peripheral retinotomy for insertion of the monolayer using a novel tissue injector, followed by silicone oil tamponade injection, laser photocoagulation around the retinotomy site, and inferior iridectomy. Oral cyclosporine was administered from day 1 and during the entire follow-up period. Three months later, the animals were euthanized and the eyes and major organs were submitted for histological analysis. Adjacent sections underwent immunohistochemical analysis to detect human cells using anti-TRA-1-85 (human blood group antigen) antibody and DAPI antibodies.

RESULTS: The cell monolayer was immunopositive for TRA-1-85 3 months after implantation and migration from the Parylene-C scaffold was not detected. One eye had a mild inflammatory reaction around the implant that was negative for human biomarkers. No intraocular or systemic tumors were detected.

CONCLUSION: The hESC-RPE cells survived for 3 months in this animal model. The surgical procedure for subretinal implantation of CPCB-RPE1 is feasible and safe, without cell migration off the scaffold or development of ocular or systemic tumors. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2016;47:342-351.].