Research
Research Areas
Thermosensitive Hydrogel Platform
In the surgical repair of retinal detachments, vitreous tamponade agents such as expansile gases and silicone oil, are used to ensure the retina remains attached to the back of the eye post-operatively. These agents have been around since the 1960s. However, they have multiple limitations such as the requirement for post-op positioning, raised intraocular pressure, cataract formation and the need for additional removal surgeries.
In collaboration with Dr. Loh Xian Jun from the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), we have developed a biodegradable and thermosensitive hydrogel. The hydrogel, when injected into the eye in its liquid form, is able to turn into a gel state, functioning as an effective internal tamponade agent. It is also biocompatible and has been shown to stimulate the reformation of a native vitreous-like body in-situ after biodegradation.
Funded by the A*STAR Industry Alliance Fund Pre-positioning Fund (IAF-PP), our lab is currently preparing for the translation of the hydrogel to clinical trials. The hydrogel technology has been patented and is in the process of commercialization. We are also exploring the use of this hydrogel as a sustained drug delivery platform for biologics to the posterior segment of the eye. Lastly, the hydrogel is also being developed as a scaffold to facilitate stem-cell transplantation for retinal disease such as age-related macular degeneration.
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness for those over age 55 in developed countries. To date, only the early stages of neovascular AMD (nAMD) can be treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections. In late stage diseases, most of these patients are no longer amenable to anti-VEGF treatments. Retinal cell therapy has been purported as a promising strategy for treating the disease. The first clinical trials of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) transplantation for vision-threatening complications of AMD have begun with preliminary signs of success as well as limitations that have to be tackled.
Funded by the A*STAR Industry Alliance Fund Industry Collaboration Project. (IAF-ICP) and the National Research Foundation Competitive Research Program (NRF-CRP), we are currently exploring alternative sources of stem-cell derived RPE and RPC as well as developing novel scaffolds for the sub-macular transplantation of these cells in large animal models.
The lab is concurrently developing RNAi-based gene therapeutics for inherited retinal degeneration.
