Breakthrough as human corneas were printed for first time
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Human corneas have been 3D printed for the first time by scientists at Newcastle University.
The researchers mixed stem cells from a healthy donor cornea with alginate, a gel derived from seaweed, and collagen to create a “bio-ink” solution that can be printed.
Using a 3D printer, this bio-ink was extruded into concentric circles to form an artificial cornea, according to a paper published in Experimental Eye Research.
The cornea, the outermost layer of the human eye, is important in focusing vision, but almost 5 million people suffer total blindness due to corneal scarring caused by burns, lacerations, abrasion or disease, according to researchers at Newcastle University.
Up to 10 million people worldwide require surgery to prevent corneal blindness from disease such as trachoma, an infectious eye disease, and that has led to a severe shortage of corneas available for transplant.
Scientists announcing the development said in a press release that “corneal transplantation constitutes one of the leading treatments for severe cases of loss of corneal function” and stated that the successful 3D printing of a human cornea “could be used in the future to ensure an unlimited supply of corneas.”
