3D Printed Corneas May Lessen the Shortage of Donors
Orange County, CA - May 31st, 2018 - The cornea is clear and has a dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye. It has an important role in focusing your vision; it acts as the eye's outermost lens. It functions like a window that controls and focuses the entry of light into the eye.
Since the cornea is located on the outer layer of the eye, it’s pretty susceptible to injury. With the shortage of available transplants, roughly 10 million people risk corneal blindness due to infectious disorders like trachoma.
Newcastle University researchers in the United Kingdom have printed human corneas. Referred to as “bio-ink,” the printed corneas are a mixture of alginate, collagen, and a small number of human stem cells that are made to differentiate into corneal stromal cells. With the stem cells being allowed to grow within its structure, it removes having to grow the stem cells outside the new cornea and then introducing them into the implant.
"Our unique gel - a combination of alginate and collagen - keeps the stem cells alive whilst producing a material which is stiff enough to hold its shape but soft enough to be squeezed out the nozzle of a 3D printer," said Che Connon Professor of Tissue Engineering at Newcastle University.
The researchers are able to print the corneas to closely match the shape and size of the patient’s eye. The scientists, including first author and guest researcher Ms. Abigail Isaacson from the Institute of Genetic Medicine at Newcastle University, also showed they could form a cornea to match a patient’s unique specifications. The dimensions of the printed tissue were originally taken from an actual cornea. By scanning a patient’s eye, they could use the data to quickly print a cornea which matched the size and shape.
“This research highlights the significant progress that has been made in this area and this study is important in bringing us one step closer to reducing the need for donor corneas, which would positively impact some patients living with sight loss,” said Dr. Neil Ebenezer, director of research, policy, and innovation at Fight for Sight.
Researchers may alleviate the shortage of the 12.7 million people on the corneal transplant waiting list. However, clinical trials are still a ways away before any humans receive such implantation.
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3D Printed Corneas May Lessen the Shortage of Donors Orange County, CA – May 31st, 2018 – The cornea is clear and has a dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye. It has an important role in focusing your vision; it acts as the eye’s outermost lens. It functions like a window that controls and […]