The outermost transparent layer of the eye, known as the cornea, is believed to be the cause of blindness in over twelve million individuals worldwide.
In an attempt to solve this problem, bioengineering has proven to be a very promising discipline yet again. One of the latest contributions in the making comes in the form of a bioengineered implant restoring sight to those suffering from corneal blindness.
Image Credit: DaLiloveart via Shutterstock / HDR tune by Universal-Sci
Currently, the only way to restore the eyesight of people suffering from corneal blindness is by having a human donor's cornea implanted into them. However, just one out of every 70 patients actually receive a corneal transplant.
Additionally, the majority of people in need of corneal transplants reside in low- and middle-income nations where access to medical care is extremely restricted.
Bioengineered implant
Scientists from the Swedish Linköping University and the company LinkoCare Lifesciences have developed an implant that mimics the human cornea. The implant is made of collagen protein derived from pig skin.
The team achieved impressive results in a trial study. Twenty patients with damaged corneas—the majority of whom were blind before getting the implant—had their eyesight restored.
According to Professor Neil Lagali, one of the researchers, their findings demonstrate that it is feasible to create a biomaterial that fully satisfies the requirements for use as human implants and can be mass-produced and preserved for up to two years, enabling it to be used by more individuals with visual impairments.
Professor Neil Lagali at work - In a pilot study, the implant restored vision to 20 people with diseased corneas, most of whom were blind prior to receiving the implant - (Image Credit: Thor Balkhed/Linköping University)
The research team employed collagen molecules (a protein that makes up the majority of the cornea) from pig skin that were created under rigorous guidelines for human usage and that were extensively purified in order to provide an alternative to human cornea.
Since pig skin is a by-product of the food business, it is convenient and cost-effective. The loose collagen molecules were stabilized while building the implant, creating a strong, transparent material that could endure handling and implantation in the eye. While bioengineered corneas can be preserved for up to two years before use, donor corneas must be utilized within two weeks.
All in all, this is a very encouraging outcome that promises a future with bioengineered implants as an alternative to the transplantation of donated human corneas, which are in short supply in nations where there is the highest demand for them.
Lower-income countries
With regards to lower-income countries, Mehrdad Rafat (CEO of the contributing company LinkoCare Life Sciences) stated the following:
"We've made significant efforts to ensure that our invention will be widely available and affordable by all and not just by the wealthy. That's why this technology can be used in all parts of the world"
New, less invasive surgical method to treat keratoconus
The team also devised a brand-new, minimally invasive technique to treat a condition known as keratoconus, in which the cornea becomes so thin that it can result in blindness.
Currently, the cornea from keratoconus patients who are at an advanced stage has to be surgically removed and replaced by a donated cornea, which is then sewn into place using surgical sutures. This type of surgery is only performed at major university hospitals and is considered very invasive.
Image Credit: Akarat Phasura via Shutterstock
With the new surgical technique, no stitches are required. A sophisticated laser can be used to make the corneal incision with extreme precision, but it can also be done manually using basic surgical tools when necessary. The procedure was initially tried on pigs and shown to be less complicated and maybe safer than a standard cornea transplant.
Future research
Before the newly developed implant can be utilized in healthcare, a more extensive clinical trial and regulatory authority market approval are required.
Additionally, the researchers aim to investigate if the technique can be used in the treatment of additional eye conditions and whether the implant can be personalized for even higher efficacy.
The team published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal: Nature Biology. We listed the study below for those interested in more details.
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