Scientists ‘3D print’ eye tissue to help medical research
Scientists have ‘printed’ eye tissue to help find ways to stop people going blind in new breakthrough research.
The new study used patient stem cells and ‘3D bioprinting’ techniques to make new eye tissue that could then be used in research.
It allowed scientists to print out a set of cells that together make up the blood-retina barrier, which itself is eye tissue that helps the light-sensing receptors.
The breakthrough allows scientists to theoretically make as much tissue as they like, helping them study diseases. Scientists could create new pieces of eye that would allow them to look into degenerative eye diseases that can turn people blind, for instance.
Previous research into those diseases – such as AMD, or age-related macular degeneration – has been held back by how difficult it is to gather material from humans.
Recent years have seen increased excitement about 3D printing in biomedical applications, including for research on the eyes. Scientists hope to be able to make anatomical tissue in a variety of cell types and biomaterials.
