A study by researchers from Swedish institutions Linköping University (LiU) and LinkoCare Life Sciences AB, published Aug. 11 in the journal Nature, scientists managed to develop a cornea Like human. They created a regenerating cornea using collagen protein derived from pigskin. opinion out of 20.
Most people who received the implants had complete visual impairment, and although the study is still in its early stages, the new technology may offer an alternative to transplanting donated human corneas.
Available data show that there are approximately 12.7 million people with total visual impairment due to corneal problems. Of this number, only one out of 70 patients receives a donation through donation.
“The results show that it is possible to develop a biomaterial that meets all criteria for use as a human implant, can be mass-produced and stored for up to two years, thereby reaching more people with vision problems,” he said. Neil Lagali, researcher and professor in LiU’s department of biomedical sciences.
The study was conducted with 20 people who were blind or lost their sight due to keratoconus, a disease that thins the cornea and causes blindness. In fact, the new method is less invasive as doctors make only a small incision in the patient’s cornea and insert the bioengineered version. By the way, the common method is much more invasive, as in more advanced cases of the disease the cornea must be removed.
Corneal Bioengineering
Because the cornea is primarily developed from collagen, the scientists were able to create a human-like cornea using collagen molecules derived from pig skin—the same byproduct used by the food industry.
Pigskin is an economically advantageous material precisely because it is an inexpensive product, and while bioengineered corneas can last up to two years before use, donated corneas last only two weeks.
According to the project’s researcher and entrepreneur, Mehrdad Rafat, the safety and effectiveness of the implants is the focus of the team. He also says researchers are making significant efforts to make the technology available to everyone around the world, not just the wealthy.
ARTICLE Nature: doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01408-w
Source: Tec Mundo
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