Project description
A biomimetic artificial corneal implant
The cornea is the transparent front part of the eye and if it gets damaged by disease, infection or injury this can affect one’s vision and even lead to blindness. A global shortage in corneal graft tissue necessitates alternative solutions. The EIC-funded RESEE project aims to advance the manufacturing of a fully synthetic, biomimetic implant for treating corneal blindness. The implant, called the CorNeat KPro, offers a lifelong therapeutic solution as it can integrate with resident tissue, promoting faster healing. Its artificial nature does not require donor material, it is less expensive than conventional implants, and it is expected to alleviate the suffering and disability of people with corneal diseases. RESEE will support clinical evaluation of the CorNeat KPro and enable the device to reach the market.
Objective
The CorNeat KPro is a patent pending fully artificial cornea (no donor required) which provides a life-long solution for corneal blindness, pathology, and injury. Its novel approach, technology and surgical procedure bio-mechanically integrate artificial optics within resident ocular tissue. The CorNeat KPro wide aperture acrylic lens, identical in optical quality to the native non-astigmatic cornea, is surrounded by a non-degradable synthetic polymer skirt-like scaffold that mimics the native Extra-Cellular-Matrix and stimulates cellular growth and infiltration. The CorNeat KPro integrates underneath the conjunctiva, a site rich with fibroblasts, which heals vigorously. As a result, the CorNeat KPro skirt assimilates within the eyewall tissue providing a no follow-up life-long solution. CorNeat KPro and its implant procedure is 50% cheaper than traditional corneal implant hence an affordable remedy for millions of people with cornea-related visual impairments.
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Funding Scheme
HORIZON-EIC-ACC-BF - HORIZON EIC Accelerator Blended FinanceCoordinator
4366411 Raanana
Israel
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.