Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

Using collagenase to isolate limbal stem cells and improve the technique of ex vivo expansion of limbal stem cells for the treatment of patients suffering from unilateral limbal stem cell insufficiency based on the concept of "limbal stem cells need special cell-cell contact and cell-extracellular matrix interaction to support their survival".


Clinical Trial Description

Patients suffering from unilateral limbal stem cell insufficiency and understand the benefits and risk factors of the operation will be enrolled in this clinical trial. Two weeks before transplantation, the investigators first take 1-2 mm2 of limbal tissues from the healthy eye, digest the tissue with collagenase, and get an epithelial cell cluster. The cell cluster will be cultured on amniotic membrane with SHEM medium which contains Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/F12 (1:1), 5% dimethyl sulfoxide, 10 ng/ml human epidermal growth factor, 5μg/ml insulin, 0.5 μg/ml hydrocortisone, 1 nM cholera toxin, 50μg/ml gentamicin, 1.25μg/ml amphotericin B. Seven to ten days later after successful culture, transplantation will be performed after the cells reaches 1.5-2 cm2 compact confluent epithelial sheets without evidence of contamination. During the operation, lamellar keratectomy will be performed to remove the abnormal corneal neovascularization and scar tissue. The cultivated epithelial sheets will be transplanted to denuded corneal surface with fibrin glue and suture technique. The patients are planed to be admitted for 2 weeks. After discharge, follow up of the patients will be performed on one week, two week, one month, two months, three months, six months and one year later. Pictures of external eyes will be taken and the extent of corneal epithelium regeneration, visual acuity, and complications will be recorded during follow-up visits. The investigators plan to collect 10 patients. ;


Study Design

Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment


Related Conditions & MeSH terms

  • Acid Chemical Burn Of Cornea And Conjunctival Sac
  • Alkaline Chemical Burn Of Cornea And Conjunctival Sac
  • Benign Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid With Ocular Involvement
  • Eye Burns

NCT number NCT02202642
Study type Interventional
Source National Taiwan University Hospital
Contact Wei Li Chen, MD, PhD
Phone 886-2-23123456
Email chenweili@ntu.edu.tw
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 1
Start date January 2012
Completion date December 2015