Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
Corneal Tissue Engineering: An In Vitro Model of the Stromal-nerve Interactions of the Human Cornea
Published on: January 24, 2018
Recent advances in the design of artificial corneas
May Griffith1, Damien G Harkin
1aIntegrative Regenerative Medicine Centre, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, -Linköping, Sweden bSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, and Queensland Eye Institute, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
Purpose Of Review:
Artificial corneas are being developed to meet a shortage of donor corneas and to address cases in which allografting is contraindicated. A range of artificial corneas has been developed. Here we review several newer designs and especially those inspired by naturally occurring biomaterials found with the human body and elsewhere.
Recent Findings:
Recent trends in the development of artificial corneas indicate a move towards the use of materials derived from native sources including decellularized corneal tissue and tissue substitutes synthesized by corneal cells in vitro when grown either on their own or in conjunction with novel protein-based scaffolds. Biologically inspired materials are also being considered for implantation on their own with the view to promoting endogenous corneal tissue.
Summary:
More recent attempts at making artificial corneas have taken a more nature-based or nature-inspired approach. Several will in the near future be likely to be available clinically.
