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

这个小型企业技术转移(STTR)第一阶段项目的更广泛影响是能够开发一种角膜密封剂，通过绕过使用缝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实现显著的成本节约。近700万的角膜/巩膜撕裂和穿孔发生在美国，需要手术干预。这些伤害中约有三分之一会导致失明，80%会导致感染和其他并发症。角膜表面的高度敏感性会导致极度的不适和创伤，甚至会有轻微的擦伤和划痕。使用当前护理标准(即缝合线和氰基丙烯酸酯胶水)的患者中，有很大一部分会出现术后并发症，如眼液渗漏、感染和散光，需要广泛的护理或矫正手术。这里开发的密封胶可能会减少这些问题，从而为患者和保险公司节省成本，同时改善患者体验。拟议的项目旨在优化和微调封闭剂的配方以及使用手持生物打印笔在角膜表面上的应用，以修复角膜损伤，并为其评估开发适当的模型。第一个目标是规范和优化封闭剂在角膜表面的挤出和光固化，同时符合角膜损伤的深度和形状。研究结果可优化工艺参数，以形成具有更好的生物相容性、机械性能和粘接性能的密封膜。第二个目标是利用角膜损伤模型，通过与角膜组织的长期整合来确定封闭剂在角膜修复中的效果。预期的结果将确立粘合剂用于填充角膜缺损处的综合能力。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.