Our Technology
CorNeat Vision develops medical devices that leverage a biocompatible and non-degradable tissue-integrating material, the CorNeat EverMatrix™. Our medical devices assimilate with resident tissue to become an integral part of the patient’s body. This is achieved by imitating the micro-structure of the protein skeleton of our Extracellular Matrix (ECM) – the collagen network that provides structural and biochemical support to surrounding cells. Unlike scaffolds and other tissue-based matrices, which provide temporary infrastructure for cellular growth, the EverMatrix™’s durability and its non-degradable nature facilitate the development of applications that have the potential to revolutionize and enhance surgical care and human experience.
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Fibroblasts in soft tissue and Osteoblasts in bone play a critical role in the healing process. Fibroblasts are the most common connective tissue cells and are responsible for scar formation. They do that by migrating to damaged tissue, excreting collagen and other components of the ECM, and eventually colonizing the area, remodeling it back to its healthy state. The EverMatrix™ is a synthetic replication of the collagen network making up the backbone of our connective tissue. The mechanical properties of the EverMatrix™ are optimized to stimulate fibroblast migration and colonization. Fibroblasts perceive the EverMatrix™ as their natural habitat and therefore colonize it and assimilate it with local tissue.
Experiments performed on cell cultures and in animals demonstrate progressive colonization of the EverMatrix™ illustrated by significant presence of fibroblasts and progressive deposition of collagen fibrils within the EverMatrix™ and minimal immune system response infiltration, indicating progressive tissue integration with absent foreign body response.
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While originally developed for permanently anchoring synthetic implants to surrounding tissue, we have gradually extended the use of the EverMatrix™ to support additional use cases. It is poised to impact implant design and enable new solutions in diversified fields of medicine.
CORNEAT EVERMATRIX
TM
Embedded for life!
Use Cases
The EverMatrix™ has dozens of potential applications across diversified therapeutic fields. It can be produced in various 2D and 3D forms, enabling the following functions, all validated in-vivo:
Physical Attachment to Surrounding Tissue
The EverMatrix™ can be used to permanently attach and integrate synthetic material with live human tissue without rejection. When implanted, it stimulates cellular proliferation, leading to progressive tissue integration, as demonstrated by the CorNeat KPro. CorNeat Vision is currently conducting a second clinical trial with this product which is made up of an acrylic lens surrounded by an EverMatrix™ skirt and is intended to create a clear optical pathway for the corneally blind. The skirt is implanted between the layers of the ocular wall thus attaching the acrylic lens to the eye permanently. This affords corneally blind patients who have failed transplantation high quality visual performance for years.
Concealment of Implants
Implants trigger a chronic foreign body response, which could impact or erode adjacent tissue while degrading the implant’s functionality. The EverMatrix™ is used to conceal implants and “hide” them from the immune system. The EverMatrix™ improves retention and reduces complications. CorNeat Vision developed and is marketing a synthetic tissue substitute, the CorNeat EverPatch, used to conceal glaucoma drainage devices, replacing degradable tissue grafts and thus reducing the risk of their eventual exposure.
Soft Tissue Repair and Permanent Reinforcement
Soft tissue trauma repair leverages numerous solutions in the market today. CorNeat Vision presents a unique approach to this challenge by introducing a non-degradable ECM-like material that provides unprecedented mechanical strength to newly formed tissue. Unlike biological scaffolds used for tissue repair, as well as allografts, autografts and xenografts, our flexible and durable reinforcement patch will remain in the tissue permanently. CorNeat Vision, in collaboration with the US Navy, is developing the CorNeat gPatch, a synthetic gingival/jawbone reinforcement patch, aiming to replace degradable collagen patches and grafts and provide reliable infrastructure for gingival tissue growth and osteogenesis and remodeling. The CorNeat gPatch is expected to yield higher rates of complete (tooth) root coverage (CRC) over time, jawbone growth, and as a result improve aesthetics, the surgical success rates with dental implants and relief of hypersensitivity.
Fabrication of Membranes and Tissue Barriers
Membranes are used in a variety of medical procedures at the interface between two tissue types (i.e., bone and soft tissue) or between tissue and liquid (i.e., aqueous humor, urine, cerebrospinal fluid). The EverMatrix™ can be combined with a barrier, displacing the use of biological materials for this purpose.
Histology
Our advanced cell technology enables us to permanently attach and integrate synthetic material with live human tissue without rejection. These findings have supported the development of new and innovative medical solutions in ophthalmology and beyond.
Below you can see two images of histopathological slides portraying the synthetic ECM following implantation in the rabbit eye sub-conjunctively. Slides show the tissue a few months following the implantation. The synthetic ECM is the central layer that is lighter in hue, stained with H&E (Hematoxylin and Eosin). Cell nuclei are evident throughout as darker, purple dots. No inflammatory (rejection) response or capsule formation is evident surrounding the device and, in some areas, capillaries are seen penetrating this matrix.
Figure 1: red arrowheads - cell nuclei; light pink - artificial ECM; dark pink - local tissue
Figure 2: red arrowhead indicates a possible capillary; blue arrowhead points to spindle shape cells typical of fibroblasts; purple fibers, indicative of collagen, are evident and dispersed throughout the image
Figure 2 is stained with masson trichrome. Masson trichrome accentuates collagen, a central part of our native ECM, that appears here in purple. As evident from this image, the matrix, composed of synthetic polymeric chains, is full of collagen fibers that were laid there by residing fibroblasts from local tissue. This finding fortifies our initial assumptions that local tissue will invade the matrix while remaining viable and active. The deposition of collagen actually “hides” the synthetic fibers from our own immune system and metabolism thus embedding them permanently within our body. Another finding that stands out in the masson trichrome stained image is the evidence of capillaries within the matrix, yet another strong indicator of permanent integration.
IP
CorNeat Vision has been making extensive investment over the past few years to protect its innovations. The company plans to continue and invest in expanding its intellectual property. Several of the company’s patents were already granted in major markets and others are still pending.