Porcine dermal collagen was chemically and photochemically bioengineered into an implantable tissue mimicking the human corneal extracellular matrix. The implant presents a simpler and safer method than donor cornea transplantation while delivering equivalent outcomes, and has restored vision to people with advanced keratoconus in resource-limited regions, where the burden of blindness is highest.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$29.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Jeng, B. H. & Ahmad, S. In pursuit of the elimination of corneal blindness: is establishing eye banks and training surgeons enough? Ophthalmology 128, 813–815 (2021). An Editorial highlighting the problem of global access to corneal transplantation.
Mathews, P. M., Lindsley, K., Aldave, A. J. & Akpek, E. K. Etiology of global corneal blindness and current practices of corneal transplantation: a focused review. Cornea 37, 1198–1203 (2018). A Review highlighting keratoconus as the major indication for corneal transplantation in most of the world, emphasizing the need for less invasive surgery and improved access to donor tissue.
Gain, P. et al. Global survey of corneal transplantation and eye banking. JAMA Ophthalmol. 134, 167–73 (2016). A global survey reporting regional disparities in the availability of donor corneal tissue.
Zirm, E. K. Eine erfolgreiche totale Keratoplastik [A successful total keratoplasty]. Refract. Corneal Surg. 5, 258–261 (1989). Reprint in English of Zirm’s original 1906 paper describing the first successful human corneal transplant.
Spinozzi, D. et al. In vitro evaluation and transplantation of human corneal endothelial cells cultured on biocompatible carriers. Cell Transplant. 29, 963689720923577 (2020). An article describing corneal endothelial cells cultured on a bioengineered collagen membrane similar to the one in this study.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Rafat, M. et al. Bioengineered corneal tissue for minimally invasive vision restoration in advanced keratoconus in two clinical cohorts. Nat. Biotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01408-w (2022).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Accessible bioengineered corneal tissue to address a blinding disease globally. Nat Biotechnol 41, 25–26 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01409-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-022-01409-9
