Tissue Implant to Repair Surgical Damage to Breast

Researchers have developed an injectable tissue implant that could be used to repair breast damage caused by lumpectomy or other invasive surgical procedures.

The implant is made of donor cells grown onto a scaffold of tiny beads, then mixed with a gel, and injected into the breast. Gels and beads are absorbed, leaving only the cells, which grow to fill the damaged area. The result is designed to reduce scarring, help restore the breast's natural shape, and promote quicker surgical recoveries. If testing goes well, the researchers say the technology could be ready for use in humans within 10-15 years. The same technique might also be used in bone reconstruction and spinal disc repair.

"It's thrilling to be a part of a project that could have such a profound impact on women's lives,” said Karen Burg, a bioengineer at Clemson University (SC, USA) and a Clemson alumna who was recruited to Clemson four years ago to help develop its tissue engineering program. Her work to date has brought her a number of awards from the scientific community.

An estimated 74,000 US women undergo breast reconstructions each year to repair damage from invasive procedures such as lumpectomies and mastectomies. Others who might benefit from the new technology include patients with tissue and organ failure.




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