Newcastle University.
Dr Steve Swioklo, co-author with Prof Che Connon (right)
Newcastle University has successfully 3D printed human corneas as part of a proof-of-concept research program.
The cornea is the outmost layer of the human eye, and it has an important role in focusing vision. Over 10 million people need surgery to prevent corneal blindness. In addition to this, 5 million people suffer total blindness due to corneal scarring.
Read a Q&A with Che Connon, research lead, here.
The research, which was published in Experimental Eye Research, shows how stem cells from a healthy donor cornea got mixed with alginate and collagen to create a solution that could be printed, a so called 'bio-ink'. The corneas are built to fit a patient's certain specifications, and the printing of the ink to create the shape of the cornea only take 6 minutes. Stem cells then grow around the scaffolding to create a cornea for transplant.
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.”
Even though they have now managed to print a cornea to fit specifics, it does not mean it is ready to be used. 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.''
Dr Neil Ebenezer, director of research, policy and innovation at Fight for Sight expresses his gratitude and happiness for future patients, and believes this brings them one step closer to reducing the need of donor corneas using human tissue.
Ebenezer also added, “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.
“A corneal transplant can give someone back the gift of sight.”
