Her research team was able to create scaffold-like patterns on the surface of porcine retinal tissue, making templates out of molecular compounds called peptides that could promote the growth of transplanted healthy cells to treat age-related macular degeneration.

In macular degeneration, the retinal pigment epithelial cells that deliver nutrients to the retina and remove waste products deteriorate, causing blindness. Researchers have theorized that placing templates on the retina could allow transplanted cells to take hold and grow, thereby restoring central vision to macular degeneration sufferers. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness for people 55 and over in the United States, affecting more than 10 million Americans.

"It has been proposed that you might implant retinal pigment epithelial cells as a potential treatment for macular degeneration, but the success of such a procedure could be greatly increased if you used some sort of a template or scaffold," reported Professor Ivanisevic. Her research team utilized an instrument called an atomic force microscope and a device called a cantilever to lay down lines of peptides in a process known as dip-pen nanolithography. Each of the lines in the template was less than 100 nanometers wide. "We wanted to demonstrate that we could perform lithography, or patterning, on something other than a metal, semiconductor, or insulator surface," Ivanisevic said. "Here we have shown that it can be done on retinal tissue."

Further research will look at the precise nature of the bonds created and the design of additional templates.