Page 482 - IJB-9-5

International Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
3D bioprinting of corneal decellularized

extracellular matrix: GelMA composite hydrogel
for corneal stroma engineering

Mingshan Zhang 1,2,3† , Fang Yang 4,5† , Daobo Han , Shi-yao Zhang , Yipeng Dong ,
1†
1
4
Xinyu Li , Liyun Ling , Zhichao Deng , Xuewei Cao , Jianguo Tian , Qing Ye *,
1
1
1,3
4
4
1
Yan Wang *
4,6
1 Key Laboratory of Weak-Light Nonlinear Photonics, Ministry of Education, School of Physics and
TEDA Applied Physics, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
2 Institute of Modern Optics, Eye Institute, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
3 Nankai University Eye Institute, Nankai University Afflicted Eye Hospital, Nankai University, Tianjin,
China
4 Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
5 Department of Ophthalmology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
6 Tianjin Eye Hospital and Nankai University Eye Institute, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and
Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University,
Tianjin, China
† These authors contributed equally
to this work.
*Corresponding authors: Abstract
Qing Ye
(yeqing@nankai.edu.cn) Millions of individuals across the world suffer from corneal stromal diseases that
impair vision. Fortunately, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology which
Yan Wang
(wangyan7143@vip.sina.com) has revolutionized the field of regenerative tissue engineering makes it feasible to
create personalized corneas. In this study, an artificial cornea with a high degree of
Citation: Zhang M, Yang F, Han D,
et al., 2023, 3D bioprinting of precision, smoothness, and programmable curvature was prepared by using digital
corneal decellularized extracellular light processing (DLP) 3D bioprinting in one piece with no support structure, and
matrix: GelMA composite hydrogel the construct was then confirmed by optical coherence tomography (OCT). On the
for corneal stroma engineering. Int J
Bioprint, 9(5): 774. basis of this approach, we developed a novel corneal decellularized extracellular
https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.774 matrix/gelatin methacryloyl (CECM-GelMA) bioink that can produce complex
Received: March 3, 2023 microenvironments with highly tunable mechanical properties while retaining
Accepted: April 27, 2023 high optical transmittance. Furthermore, the composite hydrogel was loaded with
Published Online: June 14, 2023 human corneal fibroblasts (hCFs), and in vitro experiments showed that the hydrogel
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s). maintained high cell viability and expressed core proteins. In vivo tests revealed
This is an Open Access article that the hydrogel might promote epithelial regeneration, keep the matrix aligned,
distributed under the terms of the and restore clarity. This demonstrates how crucial a role CECM plays in establishing
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution, a favorable environment that encourages the transformation of cell function.
and reproduction in any medium, Therefore, artificial corneas that can be rapidly customized have a huge potential in
provided the original work is the development of in vitro corneal matrix analogs.
properly cited.
Publisher’s Note: Whioce
Publishing remains neutral with Keywords: Corneal decellularized extracellular matrix; Digital light processing;
regard to jurisdictional claims in Gelatin methacryloyl; Double-curvature structure; Human corneal fibroblasts
published maps and institutional
affiliations.

Volume 9 Issue 5 (2023) 474 https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.774