The biosynthetic material could make treatment for damaged corneas more affordable and available.
But the researchers say their implant should have some key advantages over these options. Many of these treatments still rely on donated corneas to reduce the risk of rejection by the body, while the team’s implant instead uses relatively cheap biosynthetic material derived from purified pig skin. The material is then used to create a thin but durable layer of mostly collagen, the same basic ingredient of the cornea.
with fewer resources. And other research of theirs suggests that the materials in the implant should remain stable for at least eight years, if not longer.“We’ve made significant efforts to ensure that our invention will be widely available and affordable by all and not just by the wealthy. That’s why this technology can be used in all parts of the world,” Rafat said.
Of course, these findings are still very small in scope. It will take successful results seen in many more patients before any country would think to approve this treatment. To that end, the researchers are planning larger clinical trials of their implant, and they may broaden their work to see if the treatment can work for other cornea-related conditions.