Comparative Study of Decellularized Human Amniotic Membrane Hydrogel and Inverted Internal Limiting Membrane Flap in Idiopathic Large Macular Holes (MACROHOLE)

September 3, 2026 updated by: Jakkrit Juhong, Walailak University

Comparative Study of Decellularized Human Amniotic Membrane Hydrogel and Inverted Internal Limiting Membrane Flap in Idiopathic Large Macular Holes (MACROHOLE): a Randomized-control Trial

The human amniotic membrane (hAM) patch, introduced by Rizzo et al. in 2018, showed a 100% anatomical success rate for large or failed macular holes over a 6-month follow-up. Despite its regenerative properties like promoting angiogenesis and having low immunogenicity, its clinical use is limited by challenges such as trimming to fit small holes and complications during insertion. To overcome these issues, decellularized amniotic membrane (dAM) has been processed into a hydrogel form, enhancing its applicability and allowing it to be used as an injectable hydrogel for minimally invasive therapies. While dAM hydrogels have been used in various medical fields, their application in intraocular surgery is new. This study proposes using dAM hydrogel for large macular hole closure, comparing its effectiveness to the inverted ILM flap technique in a randomized controlled trial.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

A macular hole (MH) is a neuroepithelial defect in the macular area of the retina. The estimation of macular hole incidence about 33 of every 10,000 person in individuals older than 55 years old1. The female-to-male ratio is 2 to 3:1. Idiopathic macular hole (IMH) is MHs occurring independently of primary ocular diseases such as trauma and vitreoretinopathy2 and represents the predominant subtype of MH, constituting approximately 83%1. There is a 5% to 15% risk of developing macular hole in the other eye if a macular hole develops in one eye.1 In 1988, Gass proposed a classification system for idiopathic macular holes, as well as a new hypothesis for its pathogenesis, which emphasizes the role of the vitreo-macular tangential traction in the formation of macular holes3. Macular hole closure can occurred spontaneously in approximately 5-10% cases in early stages. Pars plana vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and gas tamponade has been the standard of care of small size macular hole treatment with success rate more than 90%4. However, in large macular hole more than 400 um, the success rate is lower. Previous study showed closure rate of large macular hole > 400 μm is 56% with poor visual outcome.4,5 Several new techniques have been described to improve anatomical and functional outcomes in cases of large macular holes by inserting alternative tissues into the macular hole, such as the ILM flap, human amniotic membrane patch6, or retinal tissue implantation, to promote anatomical closure and improve visual acuity. The utilization of ILM flap coverage has emerged as an effective surgical approach for treating large, full-thickness idiopathic MH and myopic MH. This technique was initially introduced in 1999, showing promising results in enhancing macular hole closure rates through ILM peeling. Several subsequent studies 7-9 have further substantiated the efficacy of ILM flap coverage, making it the standard surgical treatment for large macular hole cases. However, this technique is often hindered by limitations related to the technical complexity of surgery and the risk of retinal trauma.

The human amniotic membrane (hAM) patch, proposed by Rizzo et al. in 20186, serves as another alternative technique for large or failed macular hole cases. The anatomical success rate was 100% during the 6 months follow-up. The exceptional biological properties of hAM, including its promote angiogenesis10, low immunogenicity11, and anti-inflammatory11,12, anti-fibrotic13, and antibacterial characteristics14, make it highly suitable for regenerative medicine and intraocular implantation. However, the clinical application of thin hAM sheets is limited by several challenges, such as the difficulty of trimming it to fit very small hole sizes (< 0.2 cm), tissue loss after insertion into the PPV port, and complications during the insertion of the hAM patch into the hole. To address these limitations, processing decellularized amniotic membrane (dAM) tissue into a hydrogel form has enhanced its processability and applicability15. This transformation allows it to be used as an injectable hydrogel for minimally invasive therapies and facilitates its manipulation into the macular hole.

dAM hydrogels have been applied in various fields, including skin repair, cardiac treatment, cartilage regeneration, endometrial regeneration, vascular grafts, dental pulp regeneration, and as cell culture/carrier platforms. However, their use in intraocular surgery has not yet been established. Additionally, the benefits of dAM hydrogel over hAM tissue include lower immunogenicity due to the decellularization process since the resident cells may cause intense host immunologic reactions after transplantation and transplant rejection and the homogeneous distribution of biochemical substances within the hydrogel structure.15 In this study, we will be the first to propose a new technique and invention for closing large macular holes using human amniotic membrane hydrogel filling in the hole after standard ILM peeling. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to compare the anatomical and visual outcomes of the inverted ILM flap technique (IFT) with the dAM hydrogel technique in idiopathic large macular holes with a minimum diameter (MD) greater than 400 μm.

In vitro biological characterization of dAM hydrogel, including RPE-1 retinal pigment epithelial cell viability (CCK-8 assay at 24 and 48 hours) and scaffold-guided cell migration (transwell invasion assay), is performed at the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Science, Naresuan University, as part of batch quality control prior to clinical use. Batch release requires RPE-1 cell surface viability at 48 hours to be not significantly different from Matrigel reference scaffold (one-way ANOVA, p = ns), consistent with active cell migration into the three-dimensional scaffold rather than cytotoxicity. This study is conducted under IRB approval No. WUEC-24-331-01 (Amendment No. 1, effective 1 May 2025).

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
26

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Thailand
    • Thasala
      • Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thasala, Thailand, 80160
        • Recruiting
        • Jakkrit Juhong
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Jakkrit Juhong, MD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Auemphon Mormuang, PhD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Hathaichanok Impheng, PhD

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Age ≥18 years Idiopathic full-thickness macular hole with minimum diameter >400 µm confirmed on SD-OCT Willing and able to provide written informed consent and comply with 6-month follow-up schedule

Exclusion Criteria:

Full-thickness macular hole with minimum diameter >1,500 µm Traumatic macular holes Myopic macular holes (axial length >26.5 mm or refractive error less than -8.0 diopters) Co-existing ocular pathologies independently affecting visual acuity (glaucoma with visual field loss, advanced age-related macular degeneration, diabetic macular edema, or epiretinal membrane requiring surgery) Active intraocular inflammation or infection Previous vitreoretinal surgery Medical unfitness for local anesthesia surgery as determined by the anesthesiologist Inability to maintain prone positioning postoperatively

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Inverted flap
Patients who will undergo 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with inverted flap technique and SF6 tamponade.
Procedure: 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with inverted flap technique and SF6 tamponade
Standard 3 port 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with inverted flap technique after brilliant blue dye staining and SF6 tamponade. "Flower petal" type of inverted flap will be performed - multiple small ILM flaps will be created around the macular hole and placed over the macular hole
Experimental: Amniotic membrane hydrogel
Patients who will undergo 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with complete internal limiting membrane peeling, amniotic membrane hydrogel filling and SF6 tamponade.
Procedure: 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with complete internal limiting membrane peeling with amniotic membrane hydrogel filling and SF6 tamponade
Standard 3 port 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy with complete internal limiting membrane peeling around the macular hole after brilliant blue dye staining then filling the hole with amniotic membrane hydrogel and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tamponade

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Closure rate
Time Frame: 6 months
Type 1 anatomical closure rate at 6 months postoperatively, defined per the Gigante et al. classification as complete flattening of the macular hole with neurosensory retina fully covering the retinal pigment epithelium across the fovea on SD-OCT, assessed by a masked investigator on anonymized images.
6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA)
Time Frame: 6 months
Change in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) from baseline to 6 months postoperatively, measured in logMAR by a masked assessor, comparing dAM hydrogel instillation versus inverted ILM flap technique.
6 months
EZ and ELM integrity
Time Frame: 6 months
Ellipsoid zone (EZ) integrity grade (Continuous/Discontinuous/Absent) and external limiting membrane (ELM) continuity (Continuous/Discontinuous) at 6 months postoperatively on SD-OCT, graded by a masked investigator on anonymized images.
6 months
Intraocular pressure (IOP)
Time Frame: 6 months
Change in intraocular pressure (IOP) from baseline to 6 months postoperatively, measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry.
6 months
Intraoperative and postoperative complications
Time Frame: 6 months
Incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications including intraocular inflammation (graded by SUN criteria), endophthalmitis, retinal detachment, elevated IOP requiring treatment, and cataract progression requiring surgery.
6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Walailak University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Naresuan University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jakkrit Juhong, MD., School of Medicine, Walailak university

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
May 22, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 22, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
May 29, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 3, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • WU999

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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