Abstract: Methods are disclosed for producing macular, central or peripheral human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. These methods include: a) culturing stem cells, such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), in a retinal induction medium to initiate differentiation of the cells into RPE progenitor cells; b) culturing the RPE progenitor cells in a retinal differentiation medium to further differentiate the RPE progenitor cells into committed RPE cells; c) culturing the committed RPE cells in a retinal medium to form immature RPE cells; and d) culturing the immature RPE cells in a RPE maturation medium including a retinoic acid receptor (RAR) antagonist and/or a canonical Wnt inhibitor, thereby producing macular, central or peripheral human RPE cells.

Abstract: A scaffold containing two layers is provided for attaching retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, photoreceptor progenitor (PRP) cells, or both. The scaffold includes a first layer containing poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and a second layer containing polycaprolactone (PCL) loops. Scaffolds containing mature RPE cells and PRP cells can be implanted into the eye of a subject to treat a retinal degenerative disease, retinal dysfunction, retinal degradation, retinal damage, or loss of retinal pigment epithelium.