3D-printed corneas could save millions ’ vision

Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash British scientists have 3D printed the first human corneas, yielding a potential fix to the worldwide shortage of corneas for implantation.  The Newcastle University researchers created a bio-ink using stem cells from a healthy donor cornea mixed with alginate and collagen. They used a simple, low-cost 3D bio-printer to extrude the bio-ink in concentric circles to form the shape of a human cornea. It took less than 10 minutes to print. The proof-of-concept research was published in May in Experimental Eye Research. “Many teams across the world have been chasing the ideal bio-ink to make this process feasible,” said lead researcher Che Connon, a professor of tissue engineering in a prepared statement. “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.” The researchers previously kept cells alive for weeks at room temperature within a similar hydrogel. Their ready-to-use bio-ink containing stem cells, will allow users to start printing tissues without having to worry about growing the cells separately, Connon added. The scientists, including first author Abigail Isaacson from the university’s Institute of Genetic Medicine, also demonstrated that they could build a cornea to match a patient’s unique specifications. The dimensions of the...
Source: Mass Device - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Biotech Blog Optical/Ophthalmic Research & Development Transplants Fight for Sight Newcastle University Source Type: news