3D Printer Used To Create Artificial Cornea By Using Fish Scales

The market for cornea transplants might drastically change in the coming years thanks to 3D printer technology. Scientists from New Zealand have recently been able to use a 3D printer to successfully create an artificial cornea that can be used for human transplant, and they did it by using collagen that gets sourced from fish scales.

They are allegedly able to create the cornea by electrospinning collagen on a microscopive level.

3D printing technology has already been used to print a variety of human tissue and body structures by researchers around the world. And this use of the technology is a new and unique way that scientists are using it to try and create artificial corneas.

For the tissue that is currently used in most cornea transplants, it often comes from organ donors. And the cost for such a procedure can range anywhere from $13,000 to almost $30,000, though its typically covered by the health insurance that the individual has. And there is an impressive need for transplants in the market today, with at least 10 million people needing a transplant of their own.

The researchers working on the new fish scale design come from Massey University and they created a method for the 3D printer to build a cornea transplant from collagen that is sourced specifically from hoki fish scales.

They are hoping that the 3D printer technology is going to make it incredibly cheaper for people to be able to get a cornea transplant in the future. Not only that, but it's going to hopefully get them a transplant that will be accepted by their body, with the fish scales that have been shown to be promising.

The fish scales that they have incorporated into their design are also regarded as a* waste product* and they have allegedly been negotiating with fisheries to develop their own partnerships so that they can continue to acquire the material that they need.

They are currently working on translating their results to the commercial scale and getting their design into mass production to create cornea transplants for potentially millions of people.

It's unsure whether they are going to be selling the 3D printed machines that can produce these artificial corneas, or if they are going to sell the cornea on the market itself, or both.

The researchers in New Zealand aren't the only ones who are looking to use 3D printers to help with cornea transplants, there are also scientists working on similar projects in Belgium, as well as in Spain, and other areas.

To date, 3D printing technology has been used to create liver tissue, a spine, ears, kidneys, skin, and more. This technology truly is remarkable in how versatile it is and the seemingly endless ways that it might be able to be used.

Whether that's printing cars and houses, simple household items like spoons and forks, or printing life-saving organs and body parts. This is already a multi-billion dollar market and is only expected to see continued growth in the years to come; $30 billion or more by 2023.

The researchers involved with the New Zealand project hope that by next year that they will be ready for mass production with their 3d printed corneas.

banner thanks to @son-of-satire
Pics:
Pixabay

Sources:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/97380731/scientists-3d-print-new-cornea-for-human-transplant-from-fish-scales
http://health.costhelper.com/cost-corneal-transplant.html
https://grownorthsite.wordpress.com/2017/05/25/spotlight-professor-johan-potgieter/
http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/expertise/profile.cfm?stref=914630
https://www.healio.com/ophthalmology/technology/news/print/ocular-surgery-news/%7B546917ba-9bf2-40aa-8e04-7d40e7536a92%7D/biomimetic-3-d-printed-corneas-may-revolutionize-corneal-transplantation
https://3dprint.com/184469/spain-3d-printed-cornea-project/
https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/cancer-diseased-spine-replaced-3d-printed-vertebrae-shanghai-changzheng-hospital-120216/
https://www.popsci.com/science/gallery/2013-07/5-body-parts-scientists-can-3-d-print#page-4
http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/3d-printing.asp

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