Transforming the Treatment of Ocular Diseases Using Encapsulated Cell Therapy: An Intersection of Neurotechnology and Medicine
This article explores retinal diseases such as macular telangiectasia, the treatments used for them in the past, and recent developments that have changed the relationship between technology and medicine. New treatments such as encapsulated cell therapy are on the horizon for treating ocular diseases, and this alliance between neurotechnology and ophthalmology holds great potential to transform the treatment of diseases.
Written by: Lakshmy Parvathy
A Brief Introduction
The eye is a human marvel with its complex structure and unique mechanisms of operation. One of the most important parts of the eye is the retina, a light-sensitive area composed of nerve cells. When light enters the eye, it is captured by the retina. Photoreceptors then convert the light signals into electrical signals and send them to the brain through the optic nerve. Once the visual cortex, a region in the brain, receives these signals, they are processed into the images we see.
Cataracts and retinal diseases significantly affect millions each year and are a leading cause of permanent blindness. Cataracts, common among older age groups, involve the progressive clouding of the eye lenses due to protein and fibers in the lens gradually breaking down. Retinal diseases affect the retina and are often linked to conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Examples of retinal diseases include macular degeneration, retinoblastoma, retinal detachment, glaucoma, retinal tears, and macular telangiectasia (MacTel). Surgery and laser treatments have previously been used to treat many of these diseases.
Current/Traditional Treatments
Historically, surgeries and laser treatments have been most commonly used to treat cataracts and diseases such as retinoblastoma. Retinoblastoma is a cancer that starts in the retina and later spreads to the rest of the eye. Although retinoblastoma usually doesn’t require surgical treatments, if not diagnosed in the early stages, it becomes problematic and will require enucleation (the removal of the eye globe while keeping the eye socket and tissues intact). Surgical procedures for retinoblastoma include the removal of the affected eye along with the optic nerve, which is then replaced with an implant.
Cataract surgeries have evolved from traditional methods to more minimally invasive techniques that make use of laser technology. In the past, the lens and capsule (membrane surrounding the lens) were removed from the eye to extract the cataract. However, the procedure had a high risk of infection because of the large incision that needed to be made. More recently, the use of laser technology has helped to reduce the incision size and infection risk, allowing for precision, efficiency, and faster recovery.
While laser treatment and surgery are adequate treatments for many ocular diseases, certain diseases such as macular telangiectasia (MacTel) present more complex challenges as the existing treatments for the disease prove to be less effective.
What is Mascular Telangiectasia?
Macular Telangiectasia (MacTel) is a retinal disease that slowly causes the deterioration of central vision, usually in both eyes, by causing photoreceptors to degenerate in a specific area of the retina. MacTel leads to blurring, distorted vision, trouble reading, and loss of central vision as it progresses. Unfortunately, there are no pharmacological options that currently treat MacTel. In addition, the existing laser treatments for MacTel can only help seal vessels in the eye from leaking, and hence aren’t very popular treatments. However, Neurotech Pharmaceuticals, a biotech company focusing on developing chronic eye disease cures, has recently engineered the latest version of its Encapsulated Cell Therapy (ECT) Platform.
What is the ECT Platform and how does it work?
The ECT platform is a hollow, semi-permeable, polymer membrane that selectively releases therapeutic proteins and intakes oxygen and nutrients. It is constructed to release a protein called Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor (CNTF), which is shown to slow down photoreceptor degeneration in MacTel. The ECT platform, NT-501 specifically, is inserted into the patient through a small scleral incision. The insertion can also be taken out through the same incision if necessary. Essentially, ECT is a way to effectively manipulate cell intake and output to attain maximum benefits for the area of treatment. The ECT platform engineered by Neurotech Pharmaceuticals is specifically targeted towards treating ocular diseases.
Ongoing Research Around NT-501
Various studies were conducted with Neurotech Pharmaceutical’s ECT platform and its effectiveness. In a study of 64 participants, the NT-501 implants, “a macroencapsulation device containing human retinal pigment epithelial cells,” demonstrated a stable production of CNTF over a span of 14.5 years. Overall, the results showed that NT-501 was able to slow down the progression of retinal degeneration in patients by up to 30%. No harmful side effects were observed in the participants. NT-501 is also being tested on other ocular diseases such as Glaucoma but further studies are still needed.
Conclusion
The recent stride made by NT-501 implants in addressing MacTel indicates a promising future for treating other eye conditions like Glaucoma. The integration of neurotechnology, exemplified through encapsulated cell therapy, showcases a positive step towards managing and curing once-deemed incurable retinal diseases. And ultimately, this collaboration between neurotechnology and medicine possesses vast potential to revolutionize the approach toward disease treatment in the future.
Works Cited
https://www.neurotechpharmaceuticals.com/
https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2788292
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cataracts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353790
https://www.modernretina.com/view/alex-gorsky-joins-neurotech-s-board-as-lead-director
https://www.modernretina.com/view/what-is-encapsulated-cell-therapy-
https://eyewiki.aao.org/History_of_Cataract_Surgery
https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/retinal-diseases#treatment
https://link.springer.com/protocol/10.1007/978-1-0716-0215-7_32
