Scientists at the University of Granada (UGR) and the ibs.GRANADA Biomedical Research Institute have developed an artificial cornea made from fish scales, a breakthrough that could offer a new treatment option for patients suffering from serious eye diseases.¹

The research team, part of the Tissue Engineering Group in the Department of Histology at UGR’s Faculty of Medicine, has created corneal implants that are highly biocompatible, durable, and transparent using scales from commonly available fish such as carp. Early laboratory studies and animal tests have already shown promising results.

To address the challenges of corneal transplantation, researchers examined the structure and composition of fish scales and discovered that they possess properties suitable for corneal repair. Detailed analyses demonstrated that processed fish scales can form transparent, resilient implants capable of supporting corneal regeneration.

Experimental testing in both laboratory conditions and animal models showed encouraging functional results, suggesting the material could become a viable alternative to traditional corneal transplantation.

Beyond its medical potential, the discovery could also have economic and environmental benefits. The material is derived from a natural byproduct of the fishing industry, making it widely available and inexpensive.

“These results not only provide a new product that is potentially useful for the treatment of corneal diseases, but also highlight the value of a natural resource derived from fishing,” said Ingrid Garzón, professor of Histology at UGR. “Due to its origin, this product is very accessible, easy to obtain, and low in cost, and could contribute to boosting the fishing sector in an area affected by numerous restrictions.”

The research was officially presented at the San Cecilio Clinical Hospital in Granada. The project was carried out in the Tissue Engineering Laboratories of the Department of Histology at the University of Granada and funded by Spain’s Carlos III Health Institute under the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (project PI23/00335).

Researchers say further studies will be needed before the artificial cornea can be tested in human patients, but the findings mark a significant step toward more accessible treatments for corneal diseases worldwide.

Reference

1. Garzón I, Muñoz-Hurtado J, Pereira-Martínez J, González-Gallardo C, Ionescu AM, Cardona JC, Tejada-Casado M, Pérez MM, Chato-Astrain J, Alaminos M*. Generation of novel blue natural biomaterials from fish scales for use in cornea repair and engineering. Mater Des. 2025;258:114703. doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2025.114703