Advanced Science (Apr 2023)

Biomimetic Convex Implant for Corneal Regeneration Through 3D Printing

  • Yingni Xu,
  • Jia Liu,
  • Wenjing Song,
  • Qianchun Wang,
  • Xiaomin Sun,
  • Qi Zhao,
  • Yongrui Huang,
  • Haochen Li,
  • Yuehai Peng,
  • Jin Yuan,
  • Baohua Ji,
  • Li Ren

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202205878
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 11
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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Abstract Blindness caused by corneal damage affects millions of people worldwide, and this number continues to rise. However, rapid epithelization and a stable epithelium process are the two biggest challenges for traditional corneal materials. These processes are related to corneal curvature, which is an important factor in determination of the corneal healing process and epithelial behavior during corneal damage. In this study, smooth 3D‐printed convex corneal implants based on gelatin methacrylate and collagen are generated. As epithelium distribution and adhesion vary in different regions of the natural cornea, this work separates the surfaces into four regions and studies how cells sense topological cues on curvature. It is found that rabbit corneal epithelial cells (RCECs) seeded on steeper slope gradient surfaces on convex structures result in more aligned cell organization and tighter cell‐substrate adhesion, which can also be verified through finite element simulation and signaling pathway analysis. In vivo transplantation of convex implants result in a better fit with adjacent tissue and stronger cell adhesion than flat implants, thereby accelerating corneal epithelialization and promoting collagen fibers and neural regeneration within 180 days. Taken together, printed convex corneal implants that facilitate corneal regeneration may offer a translational strategy for the treatment of corneal damage.

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