Researchers at Spain’s University of Granada have created an artificial cornea using the scales of commonly sold fish. This innovation could offer a more affordable alternative to donor transplants for treating serious eye conditions.
The cornea the clear, front part of the eye is hard to repair when heavily damaged because it lacks blood vessels and has a limited ability to heal itself. Currently, severe corneal diseases are often treated with donor transplants, but these are limited by organ availability and long waiting lists.
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Scientists from the university’s Tissue Engineering Group and the ibs.GRANADA biomedical research institute announced in a press release that they had developed corneal implants from fish scales that are highly biocompatible, transparent, and durable.
“Due to its origin, this product is very accessible, easy to obtain and inexpensive, and could help boost the local fishing industry,” said Ingrid Garzon, professor of histology at the southern Spanish university, who co-authored the research.
Although tests indicate the implants could aid corneal repair and regeneration, the technology is still far from human clinical use and requires further trials.
The team reported that the material showed strong functional results in lab studies and in animals that received the implants.
“Although the standard transplant usually offers good results, it’s necessary to develop new effective regeneration methods that do not depend on organ donation, which is subject to waiting lists,” Miguel Alaminos, also a histology professor at the same university, said in the release.
A 2016 peer-reviewed study from Antwerp University found that artificial corneas made from fish scales were compatible with human tissue.
