Autologous Cultivated Limbal Stem Cell Transplantation Using A Decellularized Amniotic Membrane Scaffold For Corneal Surface Repair And Visual Rehabilitation
Published 2026 - 44th Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: POCOR549 | Type: Free paper | DOI: 10.82333/a4dq-pm31
Authors: Dr VAISHAKHA SHETTY* 1 , Dr VIJAY PAI 1 , Dr PRAVEENKUMAR SHETTY 2 , Mr PAVAN JAYASWAMY 3
1OPHTHALMOLOGY,K S HEGDE MEDICAL ACADEMY,NITTE UNIVERSITY,MANGALORE,India, 2BIOCHEMISTRY,K S HEGDE MEDICAL ACADEMY,NITTE UNIVERSITY,MANGALORE,India, 3central research laboratory,K S HEGDE MEDICAL ACADEMY,NITTE UNIVERSITY,MANGALORE,India
Purpose
Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) causes corneal surface instability, neovascularization, scarring, and vision loss. Although surgical procedures such as Simple Limbal Epithelial Transplantation (SLET) are commonly performed, they carry a risk of stem cell depletion in the healthy donor eye.This study evaluated the clinical outcomes of autologous limbal stem cells (LSCs) expanded ex vivo on a decellularized human amniotic membrane (HAM) scaffold for treating unilateral LSCD.
Setting
Prospective clinical trial conducted between December 2024 and December 2025 at Justice K S Hegde Charitable Hospital, Nitte (Deemed to be University), Karnataka, India.
Methods
After ethical approval and Clinical Trials Registry–India registration, five patients with unilateral LSCD were enrolled. A ~1 mm² limbal biopsy was obtained from the healthy eye. LSCs were expanded ex vivo for 3–4 weeks in medium containing 10% autologous serum. Decellularized HAM served as the scaffold for transplantation. Expanded LSCs were seeded onto the HAM and transplanted onto the affected eye. Patients were followed for 12 months to assess corneal epithelialization, surface stability, and visual acuity.
Results
Five eyes (4 males, 1 female) were treated. LSCD was secondary to chemical injury in four cases and thermal burn in one. Three patients had severe LSCD (12 clock hours of pannus with corneal opacification) and two had moderate disease. Preoperative visual acuity was perception of light in all cases. Complete corneal re-epithelialization was achieved in all eyes within the early postoperative period. By Day 35, visual acuity improved to 1/60 in four patients and hand movements positive in one. Progressive improvement in corneal clarity, reduced vascularization, and stable ocular surface was maintained throughout follow-up.
Conclusions
Decellularized human amniotic membrane provides a suitable niche for ex-vivo expansion of autologous limbal stem cells and demonstrates promising clinical outcomes in corneal surface reconstruction and visual rehabilitation in unilateral LSCD.