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Science

Corneas Could Be the First Mainstream Application of Bioprinting (ieee.org) 35

Posted by msmash from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.
A startup says it can replace donated eyes with 3D-printed corneas. From a report: Here's a futuristic problem that may not have occurred to you: If self-driving cars really catch on and the number of traffic fatalities plunges, so will the number of organs available for transplant. Currently, about 20 percent of donated organs come from people who die in car accidents. Luckily, there's a futuristic solution: 3D-printed organs.

This technology is far from ready for the clinic, as researchers are still trying to figure out how to print out complex tissue structures with blood vessels and nerves. But for one early indicator of progress in this field, look to the eye. Precise Bio, a North Carolina-based startup founded by several professors at the renowned Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, is working on bioprinting tissues for a variety of medical applications. The company just announced that its first products will be for the eye -- starting with a human cornea suitable for transplantation. "We plan to put our printers in eye banks," says Precise Bio CEO Aryeh Batt.
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Corneas Could Be the First Mainstream Application of Bioprinting More

Corneas Could Be the First Mainstream Application of Bioprinting

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  • "If self-driving cars really catch on and the number of traffic fatalities plunges, so will the number of organs available for transplant."

    Hilarious.
    • I like this logic as well. Ranks right up there with 'drunk drivers dying in crashes will reduce the number of drunks'.

    • "If self-driving cars really catch on and the number of traffic fatalities plunges, so will the number of organs available for transplant."

      I heard a similar argument when we passed laws requiring motorcycle riders wear helmets. I still joke about "donor bikes" when some invulnerable 20-something blazes past me in traffic. I wonder if anyone has any stats about the organ supply when (presumably) fewer motorcycle riders killed themselves.

  • The assumption is that there will be a shortage of traffic fatality-induced body parts. I propose that we'll make up for that as we Americans slaughter each other over trivial opinions and political differences. Obviously I have more faith in the power of the Iranians, N. Koreans, Russians and Chinese to push hot buttons via social media than I do in the ability of Americans to tell when they're being manipulated. sigh.

    • We plan to put our printers in eye banks," says Precise Bio CEO Aryeh Batt

      You'll probably have to pay Apple for the use of the term "eye banks".

  • in Production on a smaller scale (Score:4, Informative)

    by DrYak ( 748999 ) on Wednesday November 07, 2018 @01:19PM (#57606910) Homepage

    while it is far from something that you can actually implant into a patient in need of organ transplant, current state of the art is already able to build "organoid":
    small structered 3D cell cultures that more or less mimic on a tiny scale some of the structures found in real life natural organs.

    These are already useful at this stage for research (mostly pharma as they help investigate better the effects of potential drugs on interacting functional tissues, rather than cells floating freely in a test tube).

    i.e.: we're already halfway there, and this halfway is already useful (though it's more "a few percent down the right direction" rather than litteraly *half*way)

  • For those of us with degenerative a corneal disease, this sounds pretty wonderful.
    Of course, the cost will be exorbitant and perpetually 10 years away...

    • I have keratoconus in both eyes and very much agree with you in both regards: in theory, wonderful news, but extortionate $ and always another 10 years away. I keep hoping there will be a breakthrough and I won't end up old and blind.I'm willing to work with the old thing, but the blind part doesn't sound so good.

    • Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • Same here, my Rheumatoid Arthritis went crazy about 8 years ago and damaged both my corneas before the doctors figured things out and got it to stabilize.Was really starting to wonder what the market was for a blind programmer. Wonder where I sign up as a volunteer!

      Just my 2 cents ;)
  • "I only do eyes!"

  • "Here's a futuristic problem that may not have occurred to you: If self-driving cars really catch on and the number of traffic fatalities plunges, so will the number of organs available for transplant."

    The bikers will save us. Perhaps not the liver and lungs, but hey, it's a start.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Hodr ( 219920 )

      Well they don't need "brain dead" but living donors for corneas, so I don't believe there is a critical shortage of donated corneas like there is for organs like hearts/liver.

  • What about an entire bionic eye? It could have zooming so as to check out attractive people from a distance. (There may also be dignified societal benefits, but right now I can only think about how it satisfies basal instincts.)

    In the future the input device and screen projection could be done with head implants. Just don't freak people out going around saying, "resistance is futile". Extra un-points if done in a Dalek voice.

    Such tech may be pioneered on vision-impaired and RSI patients.

    • Comment removed based on user account deletion

    • What about an entire bionic eye? It could have zooming ...

      I'll be happy to settle for a lens that flexes like mine did in my youth, so I can autofocus again, and replacement corneas if/when mine become darkened or cataract ridden.

      Especially if they're of a curvature that doesn't require 6.5 diopters of spherical and 1.5 of crossed-cylinder correction perched on my nose.

      Also: Biology gets REALLY CLOSE to getting the lens and cornea shapes right, but a cultured replacement, like some experimental lasic surge

  • Just start passing the death penalty for all sort of crimes, with the convict being disassembled for parts. What could go wrong [wikipedia.org]?

    • The sentence for illegally entering the country is to become an organ-donor / organ-bank

      I wonder how this would fly in maga-ville given the intolerance for abortion and "respect for life"?
  • From the article: "these layers don’t contain blood vessels or nerves". As someone who suffers from corneal neuralgia I can tell you with considerable certainty that the cornea does contains nerves. In fact it is one of the most sensitive parts of the body. Go ahead hold your eye open and touch your finger to your cornea. Do you feel that? Nerves!

  • Organ farms (Score:3)

    by sixsixtysix ( 1110135 ) on Wednesday November 07, 2018 @03:59PM (#57608014)
    The most ethical thing to do is grow human[oid]s minus the frontal cortex to serve as organ farms. Anything less is a waste of time and money.

    • Enh. Just harvest criminals convicted of the death penalty. If that doesn't yield enough organs, just make death the penalty for more and more offenses.

  • If it's safe would it be possible to replace a contact lense with a modified cornea? Something like that safer than laser surgery.

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