Scientists at Newcastle University, in the United Kingdom, have 3D printed the world’s first real human corneas. This is unbelievable news since today, there is a significant shortage of corneas available for transplant. In the future, this printing technique could be used to ensure an unlimited supply of corneas.
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Dr Steve Swioklo with Prof Che Connon (right) holding up a printed cornea
The cornea is the outermost layer of the human eye and it has an important role in focusing vision. Statistics show that there are currently 10 million people worldwide requiring surgery to prevent corneal blindness as a result of diseases such as trachoma, an infectious eye disorder. On top of that, there’s an additional 5 million people who suffer total blindness due to corneal scarring caused by burns, lacerations, abrasion or disease.
Published in Experimental Eye Research is the report on how stem cells (human corneal stromal cells) from a healthy donor cornea were mixed together with alginate and collagen to create a solution that could be printed, a ‘bio-ink’. This bio-ink was successfully extruded in concentric circles to form the shape of a human cornea by using a simple low-cost 3D bio-printer. The whole printing procedure takes just over 5 minutes. The stem cells were then shown to culture (grow).
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Dr Steve Swioklo with Prof Che Connon (right) watch as the cornea is being printed
Che Connon, Professor of Tissue Engineering at Newcastle University, who led the work, said: “Many teams across the world have been chasing the ideal bio-ink to make this process feasible. 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. This builds upon our previous work in which we kept cells alive for weeks at room temperature within a similar hydrogel. Now we have a ready to use bio-ink containing stem cells allowing users to start printing tissues without having to worry about growing the cells separately.”
Professor Connon added: “Our 3D printed corneas will now have to undergo further testing and it will be several years before we could be in the position where we are using them for transplants. However, what we have shown is that it is feasible to print corneas using coordinates taken from a patient eye and that this approach has potential to combat the world-wide shortage.”
The study also demonstrated that they could build a cornea to match a patient’s unique specifications. All they have to do is scan a patients eyes, then use the data to rapidly print a cornea which matched the size and shape.
This is but yet another mind-boggling discovery of science that improve our lives in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. These artificial corneas could actually restore eyesight to millions of blind or partially blind people once they perfect the technology. A corneal transplant can give someone back the gift of sight which is utterly amazing!
Dr Neil Ebenezer, director of research, policy and innovation at Fight for Sight, said: “We are delighted at the success of researchers at Newcastle University in developing 3D printing of corneas using human tissue. 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. However, it is important to note that this is still years away from potentially being available to patients and it is still vitally important that people continue to donate corneal tissue for transplant as there is a shortage within the UK.”
Source: Newcastle University Press Office
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