Scientists from Linköping University in Sweden made the bioengineered corneas out of collagen molecules derived from pig skin. Since this is a by-product of the food industry, it’s a low-cost material that’s readily available.

Figure 1: A low cost, corneas out of collagen molecules derived from pig skin.

Figure 1 shows thatthey can be stored for up to two years after being made, as opposed to human donor corneas which need to be used within a couple of weeks.“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”, Mehrdad Rafat. [1]

Bioengineered corneas could be made more readily available and may also have a longer shelf life than donor tissue. In a small trial, the implant restored or improved sight in 20 patients who were blind or visually impaired from a corneal condition called keratoconus.Among other customizations, the size and thickness could be adjusted to accommodate the patient’s eye and the type of condition they have.

To make the implant, researchers isolated collagen molecules from pig skin, separating out all of the other biological components of the tissue. They added bonds between the collagen fibers to strengthen them and wove them into a hydrogel scaffold to mimic a human cornea.

The researchers made a small incision in the patients’ eyes and slipped the bioengineered corneas over their existing ones, making it a simpler procedure. [2] In their two-year follow-ups, there were no reports of complications. During the two years after surgery, researchers said the thickness and curvature of the cornea were restored to normal.

The results of this study are expected to provide important clues for the development of new therapeutics for psychiatric disorders targeting the SlitTrack2-TrackB complex. [2]

Before the surgery, 14 of the 20 participants were blind. After two years, researchers reported that all of them had sight and three participants who were blind had perfect 20/20 vision.Dr. Benjamin Bert, an ophthalmologist at Memorial Care Orange Coast Medical Centre in California, typically performs four to six corneal transplants each month.

The scientists indicated they would need to complete a more extensive study. They also want to determine if the technology and technique could treat other eye conditions. The results would then be submitted to regulatory authorities and received approval before their methods could be used in healthcare.Their goal is to have the invention widely available and affordable in all parts of the world. [3]

References:

1. https://www.iflscience.com/bioengineered-corneas-restore-sight-to-14-blind-people-in-new-trial-64864
2. https://www.wired.com/story/a-bioengineered-cornea-shows-it-can-improve-peoples-sight/
3. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/bioengineered-cornea-from-pigs-shows-promise-in-helping-restore-sight-to-the-blind#Potential-future-uses

Cite this article:

Sri Vasagi K (2022), Corneas Out of Collagen Molecules Resulting from Pig Skin, AnaTechMaz, pp.89