Formation and growth of lipofuscin in the retinal pigment epithelium cells

K. I. Mazzitello, C. M. Arizmendi, F. Family, and H. E. Grossniklaus

Phys. Rev. E 80, 051908 – Published 12 November 2009

Abstract

The kinetics of lipofuscin growth in diseased retinal pigment epithelium cells is investigated using Monte Carlo simulations and scaling theory on a cluster aggregation model. The model captures the essential physics of lipofuscin growth in the cells. A remarkable feature is that small particles may be removed from the cells while the larger ones become fixed and grow by aggregation. Model simulations are compared to the number of lipofuscin granules in eyes with early age-related degeneration.

Received 24 June 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.80.051908

Authors & Affiliations

K. I. Mazzitello^1,2, C. M. Arizmendi¹, F. Family², and H. E. Grossniklaus³

¹Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, 7600 Mar del Plata, Argentina
²Department of Physics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
³L.F. Montgomery Ophthalmic Pathology Laboratory, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA

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Vol. 80, Iss. 5 — November 2009

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Physical Review E

covering statistical, nonlinear, biological, and soft matter physics