U.S. scientists have created a new liquid material injected under the skin can restore the injured soft tissue, including tendons, ligaments, muscles and skin.
The material is composed of both biological and synthetic molecules and inject it acts "as a gelatin gel in the mold" and once the material is "molded" into place, you are assured exposing it to a special kind of light explained Researchers at Johns Hopkins, United States.
Although research is preliminary, experiments in rats and humans show three patients that is safe and durable material, the study published in Science Translational Medicine (Science, Translational Medicine).
According to the researchers, the results of preliminary experiments in rats and humans, are "promising."
The compound is injected under the skin and restores the soft tissue.
Biological and synthetic
The scientists created the compound with a combination of hyaluronic acid, a natural component of skin, especially in young people, responsible for conferring elasticity and polyethylene glycol, a synthetic molecule that is currently used as "glue" surgical operations.
The energy of light, the scientists said, "catch" the molecules of both compounds to maintain their shape and avoid leaving the injection site.
In experiments with rats, Professor Jennifer Elisseeff and his team injected different concentrations of both compounds in the muscles of the back of the animals to test what the best combination.
It also evaluated the safety and durability of the implants in three human patients who had undergone abdominoplasty (tummy to reduce the abdomen).
They were injected in different concentrations of the compound under the skin of the stomach.
As the researchers report, "none of the patients needed hospitalization or suffered disability or death due directly to the implant."
But it reported a heat sensation and pain during the curing process of composite gel.
Twelve weeks after implantation, scanners, magnetic resonance imaging showed no loss of the compound in patients.
And when the implant was removed to inspect the underlying tissue was found mild to moderate inflammation. This, scientists say, due to the presence of certain types of white blood cells.
This same effect was observed in rats, they add.
"We still need to evaluate the persistence and security of our material in other human tissues such as muscle or fat regions under the skin of the face, to optimize it for specific processes" explains Professor Elisseeff.
Facial Reconstruction
The compound is secured in place with special light energy.
But he says progress is very promising and could someday be used, for example, in facial reconstruction of soldiers injured in explosions.
And also hope to eventually be able to use in the reconstruction of facial deformities of individuals living under tremendous social and psychological trauma.
Most materials used for implants today are synthetic and one of the main problems they present is being rejected by the immune system.
And although it also has biological materials, they often break down too quickly in the body.
In addition, soft tissue reconstruction, which includes all the tissues that connect, support or surround other structures and organs such as tendons, ligaments, skin, fiber, fat, nerves, etc. .- is the problem of recreating the natural shape of the injured area, which often require multiple reconstructive surgeries.
As Professor Elisseeff says, "Our material has combined the best properties of both worlds."
"The biological component greater compatibility with the agency and the synthetic component contributes to the durability," he says.
However, the researchers stress that it will still be necessary to conduct much more research to use the material in the clinic.
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The material is composed of both biological and synthetic molecules and inject it acts "as a gelatin gel in the mold" and once the material is "molded" into place, you are assured exposing it to a special kind of light explained Researchers at Johns Hopkins, United States.
Although research is preliminary, experiments in rats and humans show three patients that is safe and durable material, the study published in Science Translational Medicine (Science, Translational Medicine).
According to the researchers, the results of preliminary experiments in rats and humans, are "promising."
The compound is injected under the skin and restores the soft tissue.
Biological and synthetic
The scientists created the compound with a combination of hyaluronic acid, a natural component of skin, especially in young people, responsible for conferring elasticity and polyethylene glycol, a synthetic molecule that is currently used as "glue" surgical operations.
The energy of light, the scientists said, "catch" the molecules of both compounds to maintain their shape and avoid leaving the injection site.
In experiments with rats, Professor Jennifer Elisseeff and his team injected different concentrations of both compounds in the muscles of the back of the animals to test what the best combination.
It also evaluated the safety and durability of the implants in three human patients who had undergone abdominoplasty (tummy to reduce the abdomen).
They were injected in different concentrations of the compound under the skin of the stomach.
As the researchers report, "none of the patients needed hospitalization or suffered disability or death due directly to the implant."
But it reported a heat sensation and pain during the curing process of composite gel.
Twelve weeks after implantation, scanners, magnetic resonance imaging showed no loss of the compound in patients.
And when the implant was removed to inspect the underlying tissue was found mild to moderate inflammation. This, scientists say, due to the presence of certain types of white blood cells.
This same effect was observed in rats, they add.
"We still need to evaluate the persistence and security of our material in other human tissues such as muscle or fat regions under the skin of the face, to optimize it for specific processes" explains Professor Elisseeff.
Facial Reconstruction
The compound is secured in place with special light energy.
But he says progress is very promising and could someday be used, for example, in facial reconstruction of soldiers injured in explosions.
And also hope to eventually be able to use in the reconstruction of facial deformities of individuals living under tremendous social and psychological trauma.
Most materials used for implants today are synthetic and one of the main problems they present is being rejected by the immune system.
And although it also has biological materials, they often break down too quickly in the body.
In addition, soft tissue reconstruction, which includes all the tissues that connect, support or surround other structures and organs such as tendons, ligaments, skin, fiber, fat, nerves, etc. .- is the problem of recreating the natural shape of the injured area, which often require multiple reconstructive surgeries.
As Professor Elisseeff says, "Our material has combined the best properties of both worlds."
"The biological component greater compatibility with the agency and the synthetic component contributes to the durability," he says.
However, the researchers stress that it will still be necessary to conduct much more research to use the material in the clinic.
link