British scientists 'print' eye cells in world first

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An inkjet printer has been used to “print” cells from the eye for the first time, British scientists have said, in a striking demonstration of how technology could aid the search for a cure to blindness. The breakthrough is the first step towards using printer technology to create artificial tissue that might be used in complex retina repair procedures. It is the latest application of bio-printing technology, which is being used by to create ever-more complex cellular structures, including organs, but this is the first time that mature central nervous system cells have been printed. “The retina is an exquisitely organised structure where the precise arrangement of cells in relation to one another is critical for effective visual function.” Cells printed this way remained healthy and were able to survive and grow, the scientists said.