Method of generating human retinal progenitors from embryonic stem cells

Patent Number: 7,541,186

This patent covers the generation of retinal progenitor cells from embryonic stem cells.  Neural stem cells have previously been demonstrated to have ability to differentiate into retinal tissue, as well as embryonic stem cell derived cells. 

The current patent covers a methodology involving the generation of embryoid bodies in medium lacking bFGF and supplemented with IGF-1, Dkk-1, and Noggin.  After the embryoid body is generated, it is then cultured in a second mixture of one or more cytokines selected from IGF-1, Dkk-1, and/or Noggin as well as bFGF. 

This patent could be useful with patent #7,135,172 covering the use of nano-tubes as a matrix for artificial retina.

View this patent on the USPTO website.