Student Profile

Contact Email:Samantha.wilson@nottingham.ac.uk

Undergraduate Degree:BSc Biological and Medicinal Chemistry and Biology (Keele University)

PhD Summary

The native corneal structure is highly organised and unified in architecture with structural and functional integration which mediates its transparency and mechanical strength. Two of the most demanding challenges in corneal tissue engineering are the replication of the native corneal stromal architecture and the preservation of stromal cell phenotype which prevents scar-like tissue formation.

The generation of a functional human corneal stromal model by the manipulation of chemical, topographical and cellular cues.

A previously built non-destructive, online, real-time monitoring techniques, micro indentation and OCT, which allow for the mechanical and contraction properties of the cornea and corneal equivalents to be monitored, have been improved. These macroscopic parameters have been cross-validated by histological, immunohistochemical, morphological and genetic expression analysis.

Chemical and topographical cues have been used to manipulate the phenotype of cultured stromal cells. Tailoring the culture niche encourages stromal cells towards keratocyte, fibroblast or myofibroblast lineages. The removal of serum from media and the introduction of stiff, orthogonally arranged nanofibres caused fibroblastic cells to revert to keratocyte-like cells with increased cell organisation. Through the use of cellular cues, via epithelial co-culturing, it is possible to revert fibroblastic cells to a native keratocyte phenotype in vitro whilst retaining cell plasticity.

Publications, Presentations and Awards

Publications

• Wilson, SL, El Haj AJ, Yang Y. Control of scar tissue formation in the cornea: strategies in clinical and corneal tissue engineering. J. Functional Biomaterials, 2012; 3 (3): 642-687
• Wilson SL, Wimpenny I, Ahearne M, Rauz S, El Haj AJ, Yang Y. Chemical and topographical effects on cell differentiation and matrix elasticity in a corneal stromal layer model. Adv Funct Mater. 2012; 22 (17): 3641-3649 (In Press: DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201200655).
• Ahearne M, Wilson SL, Liu KK, El Haj AJ, Rauz S, Yang Y. Influence of cell and collagen concentration on the cell-matrix mechanical relationship in a corneal stroma wound healing model. Exp Eye Res 2010; 91(5): 584-591.
• Wilson, SL, Guilbert, M., Sulé-Suso, J., Torbet, J., Jeannesson, P., Sockalingum, GD. and Yang, Y. The effect of collagen ageing on its structure and cellular behaviour. Proc. SPIE 8222, 822210 (2012); http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.908749

• Wilson, S.L.; Sidney, L.E.; Dunphy, S.E.; Rose, J.B.; Hopkinson, A. Keeping an Eye on Decellularized Corneas: A Review of Methods, Characterization and Applications. J. Funct. Biomater. 2013, 4, 114-161.

Presentations

• NEC Eye Symposium, Nottingham. Characterisation of cultured stromal cells: In vitro restoration of the keratocyte phenotype using co-culture approaches 2013
• Bioreactor Course, Keele University. The use and development of on-line non-destructive imaging tools for corneal stromal layer equivalents 2012
• Corneal Meeting, Sheffield University. In vitro restoration of the keratocyte phenotype using co-culture approaches 2012
• NEC Nottinghmam Eye Symposium, Nottingham. Chemical and spatial influence on corneal stromal cell phenotype 2012
• CDT CCC, Development of a composite corneal stromal model 2011
• 3rd Limbal Stem Cell meeting, Reading. Online Monitoring in a corneal stromal model 2010

Awards

• Poster award, Nottingham Eye Symposium, Nottingham Conference Centre 2013
• Poster award, Joint CDT CCC conference, Keele University 2012
• Poster award, Annual Post graduate Symposium, Keele University, 2012
• 4th joint ESAO-IFAO World Congress travel scholarship to Porto, Portugal 2011
• Poster award, 4th Annual Limbal Stem Cell Meeting, University of Nottingham 2011
• Poster award, Annual Post graduate Symposium, Keele University 2011

Current Employment

ETERM Research fellow at the Division of Ophthalmology in Visual Sciences, University of Nottingham, Queen’s Medical Centre; 2 year fellowship concerning the development of a novel human corneal substitute using decellularised corneas.

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