With biocompatibility, South Korea’s 3D printed cornea has made a breakthrough!

acellular corneal stroma and stem cell ink,3D printingBiocompatible artificial cornea…

Bio-ink made of decellularised corneal stroma and stem cells, secrets behind the 3D-print biocompatible human cornea.

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Challenges of Biocompatible Lattice Morphologies

The cornea is the thinnest layer of the eye, covering the pupil and providing protection from the external environment. The first layer allows light in, so it needs to be transparent, move with the pupil, and be flexible. As the outermost structure of the human eye, the cornea plays a crucial role in the focusing of vision, similar to the lens of a camera. Globally, tens of millions of people suffer from vision impairment and even blindness due to corneal-related diseases.

Biocompatibility

The researchers say that because the material they used is made from a corneal tissue-derived bioink, it is biocompatible. also,3D printingThe technology simulates the corneal microenvironment, so its transparency is similar to that of the human cornea.The research team used3D printingThe shear stress generated in the corneal lattice pattern was produced and the biocompatibility of corneas biofabricated using corneal stroma-derived decellularized extracellular matrix was demonstrated.

Lattice morphology

The human cornea is a lattice-like tissue composed of collagen fibers. The lattice morphology of the cornea is directly related to the transparency of the cornea.exist3D printingDuring the process, as the ink in the printer passes through the print head and through the nozzles, frictional forces of shear stress are created. The research team successfully fabricated a transparent artificial cornea with a human corneal lattice structure by regulating the shear stress to control the morphology of collagen fibers.

Commercialization is approaching

In 2018, researchers at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom developed a “bioink” – a mixture of alginate and collagen – extracted from stem cells.3D printingTechnology has printed the world’s first artificial cornea.And Precise Bio, a North Carolina-based regenerative medicine company, has3D printingArtificial corneas are transplanted into animals, and preliminary research results in 2018 demonstrate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of Precise Bio’s new technology, laying the foundation for the development and advancement of future human trials.Apart from developing3D printingArtificial corneas, the company is also developing other tissues and devices for ophthalmic indications, including retinal patches, vision correction microlenses, and more.

In addition, artificial corneas have been used clinically in my country. In 2015, the acellular corneal stroma, bioengineered cornea “Ai Xintong”, which was independently developed by Chinese scientists, obtained the medical device registration certificate issued by the State Food and Drug Administration. Marketing approval.Currently, there are about 15 million patients in the world who must undergo surgery to prevent corneal blindness, but there is a severe shortage of corneas for transplants worldwide.3D printingCould technology bring hope to many patients with corneal-related diseases? Next step,3D printingIs the corneal tissue available for commercialization with FDA approval?China3D printingThe network will maintain continuous attention.

(responsible editor: admin)