STTR Phase I: In situ, handheld, 3D bioprinting of hydrogel sealant for corneal tissue repair and regeneration

这项小型企业技术转移（STTR）第一阶段项目的广泛影响是能够开发出一种角膜密封剂，通过绕过使用缝合线或氰基丙烯酸酯胶进行角膜修复的相关限制，为患者、医院生态系统和纳税人节省大量成本。在美国，有近700万例角膜/巩膜撕裂和穿孔需要手术干预。这些伤害中约有三分之一导致失明，80%导致感染和其他并发症。角膜表面的高度敏感性导致极度不适和创伤，甚至轻微的磨损和划伤。使用现行护理标准（即缝合线和氰基丙烯酸酯胶）的很大一部分患者会出现术后并发症，如眼液漏、感染和散光，需要大量护理或矫正手术。这里开发的密封剂可以减少这些问题，从而为患者和保险公司节省成本，同时改善患者的体验。该项目旨在优化和微调密封剂配方，以及使用手持式生物打印笔在角膜表面的应用，以修复角膜损伤，并开发适当的模型进行评估。第一个目标是在符合角膜损伤深度和形状的情况下，规范和优化角膜表面的密封胶挤出和光固化。结果可以优化参数，以形成具有改进的生物相容性，机械和粘合性能的密封膜。第二个目的是利用角膜损伤模型，通过与角膜组织的长期整合，建立密封胶在角膜修复中的功效。预期的结果将建立胶粘剂填补角膜缺损的综合能力。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact of this Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project is the ability to develop a corneal sealant that will achieve significant cost savings for the patient, hospital ecosystem, and taxpayer by circumnavigating the limitations associated with corneal repair using the sutures or cyanoacrylate glue. Nearly 7 million corneal/scleral tears and perforations occur in the US and require surgical intervention. Around one third of these injuries cause blindness and 80% lead to infections and other complications. The high sensitivity of the corneal surface results in extreme discomfort and trauma with even slight abrasions and scratches. A significant portion of patients using current standards of care, i.e. sutures and cyanoacrylate glue, suffer from postoperative complications like eye fluid leakage, infection, and astigmatism requiring extensive care or corrective surgery. The sealant developed here may reduce these issues, resulting in cost savings for patients and insurance companies while improving the patient experience. The proposed project seeks to optimize and fine-tune the sealant formulation as well as its application onto the corneal surface using a handheld bioprinting pen for the repair of corneal injury as well as the develop an appropriate models for its evaluation. The first objective aims to standardize and optimize sealant extrusion and photocuring onto the corneal surface while conforming to the depth and shape of the corneal injury. The results may optimize parameters to form a sealant film with improved biocompatible, mechanical, and adhesive properties. The second objective aims to establish sealant efficacy in corneal repair via long-term integration with the corneal tissue, using a corneal injury model. The expected results will establish the integrative capacity of the adhesive for filling corneal defects.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.