First 3D printed artificial cornea using human cells
Researchers at the University of Newcastle are announcing a new achievement, which is to be able to print 3D artificial corneas using a bioprinter and a “bio-ink” created from stem cells.
There is still a long way to go, but it is a very important first step
It is estimated that today there are more than 10 million people in the world who need surgery to prevent corneal blindness, which is the result of complications due to some other disease. Likewise, it is estimated that there are almost five million people in a situation of blindness caused by accidents or diseases. That is, almost 15 million people are waiting for a transplant.
This method precisely seeks to put an end to all this. The technique consists in taking stem cells from a healthy donor and mixing them with a gel containing alginate and collagen, in order to create a “bio-ink”. This causes the cells to stay alive, and, in turn, make the material rigid enough to maintain its shape, and soft enough to come out of the 3D printer’s nozzle.
According to those responsible for the project, during the first tests they managed to print an artificial cornea in less than six minutes . In addition, using this method would drastically reduce costs, so that it would even be possible for anyone to print their own corneas.
Before printing these artificial corneas, the patient must be studied and evaluated to determine the dimensions and the necessary coordinates, in order to match the size and shape of the patient’s eye.
The bad news is that this technology is not yet ready for mass production , before the printing process has to be refined, several tests have to be carried out, such as submitting to animal safety studies, and in a few years, receiving the approval of the regulatory bodies. Despite all this, this breakthrough means great hope for those who need a cornea.
