Technology to cure eyes for blind people without donating corneas

Australian scientists have developed a technology to grow corneal cells on a transparent hydrogel membrane, which can be used for eye transplants and restore vision to the blind.

Hydrogel film could help blind people see again. Photo: Wordpress.

Science Alert reported on August 16 that the new method was successfully tested on sheep and has great potential in the field of corneal transplants. If it can be applied to humans, this technology will help change the lives of about 10 million patients around the world.

Currently, corneal transplantation is the most effective way to restore vision related to corneal damage. However, donor corneas are very scarce. In addition, the risk of rejection and the use of steroids to prevent rejection are also difficulties when performing corneal transplantation. The transparent thin film developed by Ozcelik's team can reduce this risk.

"We believe this new treatment is more effective than using donated corneas. We hope to use the patient's own cells to limit rejection. Next year, we will conduct clinical trials," said bioengineer Berkay Ozcelik, head of the research team at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

The team took samples of sheep corneal cells, cultured them on a hydrogel membrane to increase the number of cells, and then reimplanted them into the eye. Once reimplanted into the eye, the new cells will receive moisture from the eye's tear glands to grow healthily.

The hydrogel film is 50 micrometers thick, thinner than a strand of hair. After implantation, water-receiving cells flow between the cornea and the inner eye. The hydrogel film will begin to dissolve and disappear within two months.

"Hydrogel materials help minimize inflammation, do not cause irritation and have the ability to regenerate tissue. Therefore, this method can be applied in many different cases," Ozcelik shared.

“The other benefit of this technology is that we can use donor cells to create multiple corneal cells and use them for multiple patients,” Ozcelik said.

According to VNE