London May 30 (IANS) In a first British scientists have 3D printed human corneas that could cut down shortage of eye donors available for transplant.
In the research researchers from Britain s Newcastle University mixed stem cells (human corneal stromal cells) from a healthy donor cornea with alginate and collagen to create a solution that could be printed or a "bio-ink".
Using a simple low-cost 3D bio-printer the bio-ink was successfully extruded in concentric circles to form the shape of a human cornea. It took less than 10 minutes to print.
"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 " said lead author Che Connon a professor at the varisty.
The results published in the journal Experimental Eye Research also stated that the stem cells could culture -- or grow.
"...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 " Connon added.
According to the researchers there is a significant shortage of corneas available to transplant with 10 million people worldwide requiring surgery to prevent corneal blindness as a result of diseases such as trachoma an infectious eye disorder.
Further the study also demonstrated that the cornea could also be built to match a patient s unique specifications.
The dimensions of the printed tissue were originally taken from an actual cornea. By scanning a patient s eye they could use the data to rapidly print a cornea which matched the size and shape the team explained.
"...what we have shown is that it is feasible to print corneas using coordinates taken from a patient eye and that this approach has potential to combat the world-wide shortage " Connon said.
However the researchers admitted that further investigations on 3D printed corneas are needed before they could be used in transplants.

--IANS sh/vd