3D Printing Strategies for Bioengineering Human Cornea

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Corneal diseases affect over 4.2 million people globally, with donor cornea scarcity limiting treatment options.
• 3D printing (three-dimensional printing) technology presents a novel approach for corneal tissue engineering.
• Existing reviews lack focus on cornea-specific requirements like transparency and mechanical strength.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the current state of 3D printed cornea research.
• To focus on replicating the biomechanical and optical properties of native human corneas.
• To identify limitations and advancements in 3D bioprinting for corneal applications.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on 3D bioprinting techniques and biomaterials for corneal tissue engineering.
• Analysis of studies focusing on achieving specific corneal benchmarks: transparency, curvature, and mechanical robustness.
• Evaluation of recent advancements in 3D bioprinting technologies for high-resolution, anisotropic, and multilayered construct fabrication.

Main Results:

• 3D printing allows precise control over dimensionality, structural organization, and cell-matrix interactions in corneal constructs.
• The selection of biomaterials and printing strategies is crucial for achieving desired corneal properties.
• Recent advancements show potential for producing complex corneal structures with high fidelity.

Conclusions:

• 3D bioprinting holds significant potential for addressing the global donor cornea shortage.
• Scalable and clinically relevant solutions for corneal regeneration can be developed using 3D printing.
• Further advancements in 3D printing technologies are central to realizing artificial corneas for transplantation.