AccScience Publishing / IJB / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/IJB026240246
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Early Access

3D-printed bilayered scleral patches with mechano-biological synergistic activity: A novel strategy for posterior scleral reinforcement in pathological myopia

Mengdi Chai1 Qing He1 Tingting Liu2 Xiu Wang1 Di Wu1 Bin Yao3* Ruihua Wei1*
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1 Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin 300384, China
2 Department of Laboratory Diagnosis, The 971th Hospital, Qingdao, 266072, China
3 Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300384, China
Received: 9 June 2026 | Revised: 23 July 2026 | Accepted: 3 August 2026 | Published online: 3 August 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

Pathological myopia (PM) is a leading cause of irreversible vision impairment, characterized by progressive axial elongation and posterior staphyloma. Posterior scleral reinforcement (PSR) surgery is a key intervention to halt disease progression. In this procedure, PSR materials are fixed to the posterior pole of the eye to enhance the original scleral biomechanical properties and promote collagen deposition. However, the materials used for PSR are difficult to obtain and fail to fully achieve all required biomechanical functions. In this study, a novel bilayered biomaterial combining mechanical support with bio-regenerative capacity was developed. The outer reinforcement layer was a decellularized porcine sclera (dPS), while the inner functional layer was a gelatin methacryloyl/ scleral extracellular matrix (GelMA/dSECM) hydrogel. They were developed via low-temperature extrusion-based 3D printing. The dPS layer provided stable mechanical support with high tensile strength, while the GelMA/dSECM hydrogel exhibited a porous microstructure. Bioactive components released from the bilayered material enhanced human scleral fibroblast (HSF) proliferation, migration, and collagen I expression. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that dSECM core proteins were enriched in extracellular matrix organization and angiogenesis-related pathways. In a form-deprived myopia (FDM) guinea pig model, the bilayered material controlled axial elongation and vitreous chamber depth increase. It promoted scleral thickening and achieved close apposition with host tissue in 4 weeks. This work presents a “mechanical support + regenerative” synergistic system, offering a potential strategy for effective PM management.

Keywords
Myopia
Pathological myopia
Posterior scleral reinforcement
Gelatin methacryloyl
Extracellular matrix
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International Journal of Bioprinting, Electronic ISSN: 2424-8002 Print ISSN: 2424-7723, Published by AccScience Publishing