A wedge about 240 micrometers long placed in the eye can heal. Scientists from the Royal Institute of Technology KTH and the Karolinska Institute have developed a 3D-printed device that can introduce insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells into the body. They are fixed at an angle, between the iris and the cornea in the anterior chamber. According to researchers, such cell therapy may help in the treatment of type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
The eye turned out to be crucial
Scientifically speaking, we are talking about a “medical device for storing living mini-organs in a microcage”. In the case of diabetes, this device will, instead, control and replenish insulin deficiencies. It contains a tiny cage with a “flap door” system that releases cells when needed.
According to data, over 440 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, and 1.6 million deaths annually are directly attributed to this disease. Therefore, the discovery of Swedish researchers may change the lives of millions of people around the world.
– The eye is our only window to the body and is privileged in terms of immunity – argues Anna Herland, lecturer at KTH, . The eye is supposed to be ideal for this technology because it does not have immune cells that react unfavorably in the first stage of implantation. In addition, its natural transparency allows regular microscopic inspections and examination of what is happening to the implant. Tests conducted on mice showed that the device stayed in the eye for several months, and the mini-organs quickly integrated with the animal’s blood vessels and functioned normally.
The discovery of Swedish scientists may revolutionize medicine
According to Herland, this discovery could be a real revolution in medicine. The device can enable the placement of mini-organs without limiting the supply of nutrients to cells. – This is our first step towards advanced medical microdevices that can both locate and monitor the operation of cell transplants – announces Anna Herland, quoted on the university’s website. If the effectiveness of this device is confirmed, it may also be useful in the treatment of other diseases.
Source: Gazeta
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