Medical sensation - cornea for the eye produced in 3D printer

The eye out of the printer

As the outermost layer of the human eye, the cornea plays an important role as a protective and focusing function. According to Newcastle University, ten million people worldwide need an implant to prevent corneal blindness as a result of diseases such as trachoma, an infectious eye disease. However, there is a significant shortage of donor corneas. This could change soon, because researchers have succeeded in producing a cornea implant in a 3D printer. This technique could be used in the future to ensure an unlimited supply of corneas.

Newcastle University scientists used stem cells from a healthy donor cornea and combined them with collagen and alginate, a substance derived from algae. This resulted in a gel that is stiff enough to retain its shape but soft enough to be squeezed out of the nozzle of a 3D printer. Printing takes less than ten minutes. A research report has recently appeared in the journal "Experimental Eye".

Researchers in the United Kingdom have succeeded in producing a functional eye cornea with a 3D printer. (Image: sdecoret / fotolia.com)

application areas

In addition to the previously mentioned corneal blindness as a result of infectious diseases such as a trachoma, almost five million people are partially or completely blinded by corneal scars. These scars are caused by burns, cuts, abrasions or diseases. For those affected, there is now new hope for recurrent sight through a printed cornea.

Simple production

All it takes is a simple and cost-effective 3D bioprinter that turns the gel into concentric circular motion to the desired shape until a simulated human cornea emerges in less than ten minutes.

Biotin with stem cells

The scientists around Professor Che Connon used this project to extend previous research in the area where cells within a similar gel were kept alive for weeks at room temperature. "Now we have a ready-to-use biotin containing stem cells that allow users to print tissue without having to worry about growing the cells separately," Connon says in a press release on the research.

Individually tailored to the patient

The scientists also showed that they can build a cornea that is tailored to the individual needs of each patient. By scanning a patient's eye, researchers can gain data that can then be used to quickly print a cornea that matches the size and shape of the subject.

Ready to use in a few years

"Our 3D printed corneas will now have to undergo further testing and it will be several more years before we can be in the position we use them for transplantation," said Professor Connon. However, his team has already proven that it is possible to print customized eye corneas that have the potential to combat the lack of implants.

Corneal donations are still desired

"However, it is important to note that we are still years away from providing such implants to patients, and it is still vital that people continue to donate corneal tissue for transplantation," emphasizes Dr. med. Neil Ebenezer, Research, Policy and Innovation Director, Fight for Sight, which works for the visually impaired in the UK. (Vb)