CELLINK customer and technology user at Newcastle University 3D-Bioprinted first human corneas in cutting edge breakthrough

Scientist at Newcastle University have made a revolutionary breakthrough in addressing global shortage of eye donors after using CELLINK’s bioprinting technology platform. Newcastle has used the technology to bioprint human corneas for the very first time.

This groundbreaking technique can potentially be used to create an unlimited supply of corneas in the future. Newcastle researchers Professor Che J. Connon and Dr. Stephen Swiokolo along with Abigail Isaacson, a PhD student from the Institute of Genetic Medicine were the scientist behind this.

Together they have published their proof of concept research paper “3D Bioprinting of a Corneal Stroma Equivalent,” in the journal Experimental Eye Research. The research outlines how stem cells from a healthy donor cornea are printed, in under ten minutes, in parallel circles to create the shape of a human cornea. Afterwards, the stem cells were then shown to grow.  

“Our 3D printed corneas will now have to undergo further testing and it will be several years before we could be in the position where we are using them for transplants, said Professor Connon. However, what we have shown is that it is feasible to print corneas using coordinates taken from a patient eye and that this approach has potential to combat the world-wide shortage.”

For further information, please contact:

Erik Gatenholm, CEO                                                     Gusten Danielsson, CFO

Phone: +46 73 267 00 00                                              Phone: +46 70 991 86 04

E-mail: eg@cellink.com                                                 E-mail: gd@cellink.com

About CELLINK

CELLINK has created one of the world's first universal Bioinks, today used by many of the world's most well-reputed research institutions. A Bioink can be mixed with living cells to print functional human tissues and if future research is successful, eventually, complete human organs in so-called 3D-Bioprinters. CELLINK's universal Bioink shows excellent results and can be used in both CELLINK's proprietary 3D Bioprinters and in 3D Bioprinters developed by other operators. CELLINK is listed at Nasdaq First North with the ticker CLNK. Erik Penser Bank AB, tel: +46 8 463 80 00, is the Company's Certified Adviser.