Figure 2.

Overview of current approaches for photoreceptor generation, sorting and transplantation. Donor photoreceptors can be acquired from multiple sources: primary rodent retinas, embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or reprogrammed somatic cells which give rise to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Expandable cell sources can be cultured using 3D technology resulting in the generation of photoreceptor rich retinal organoids. Donor cells can be enriched by fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) or magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) using fluorescent labels or cell surface markers (CD133⁺/CD73⁺/CD47⁺/CD24⁺, or CD73⁺, respectively). Following transplantation into mouse models of retinal degeneration the potential for retinal repair is evaluated.