Indian Institute of technology, Hyderabad (IIT-H) developed a hydrogel from discarded corneas that can be used as an alternative to Corneal transplantation.

• Research team was led by Dr Falguni Pati, an Associate Professor at Department of Bio-medical Engineering at IIT-H.
• Hydrogel was developed from discarded corneas of human and bovine sources using novel and simple method.
• The team discovered the most significant feature of this tissue-specific hydrogel in order to prevent cells from scar tissue formation.
• Tissue formation is attributed to micro-environment which cannot be offered by any synthetic or other natural material.
• Hydrogel is capable of being injected because of its two phases viz., liquid and gel on the basis of incubation temperature.
• Researchers also explored the potential of Hydrogel to serve as a material for minimally invasive treatment in order to replace complicated surgeries.