MSGID: 1:317/3 64a3a09c   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    A novel hydrogel may be a beacon of hope for infertility and fertility   
   challenges    
      
     Date:   
         July 3, 2023   
     Source:   
         Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)   
     Summary:   
         New research leads to the development of a hydrogel for endometrial   
         regeneration.   
      
      
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   The Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service revealed that over   
   the last year, more than 370,000 Koreans sought medical help for   
   infertility or difficulties in conceiving. This represents a 4.7 percent   
   increase in infertility-related treatments and a 16 percent rise in   
   subfertility-related treatments compared to the 2018 data. Korea's birth   
   rate may be declining, but an increasing number of people are seeking   
   medical attention for these issues.   
      
   These conditions may stem from numerous factors, so an accurate   
   determination of the cause is crucial. Both the individual's gender and   
   the nature of the problem must be taken into account before deciding on   
   the appropriate treatment.   
      
   A healthy endometrium plays a pivotal role in successful pregnancies. A   
   thin endometrium reduces the likelihood of effective embryo implantation,   
   with a high chance of subsequent miscarriage -- a significant contributing   
   factor to female infertility. Current treatment approaches, such as   
   hormone therapy and endometrial injections, have shown limited success. A   
   joint research team from Pohang University of Science and Technology   
   (POSTECH, President Moo Hwan Kim) and CHA University, took one step   
   closer to personalized treatment by developing a gel that mimics the   
   environment of uterine cells, inducing endometrial regeneration and   
   elucidating its mechanism.   
      
   The team, led by Professor Dong-Woo Cho from Department of Mechanical   
   Engineering, Professor Jinah Jang from the Department of Mechanical   
   Engineering and the Department of Convergence IT Engineering, PhD   
   student Tugce Sen from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at   
   POSTECH in collaboration with Professor Youn-Jung Kang and Dr. Jungho   
   Ahn from the Department of Biochemistry at the School of Medicine and   
   PhD student Danbi Lee from the Department of Biomedical Science at the   
   School of Life Science, CHA University, developed a hydrogel using a   
   uterus-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (UdECM).   
      
   Their study demonstrated that this hydrogel could regenerate the   
   endometrium, and for the first time, revealed the mechanism controlling   
   this process. The research has been published in Advanced Functional   
   Materials.   
      
   Decellularized extracellular matrices (dECMs) are assemblies of   
   biomolecules, with cellular components such as the nucleus and   
   cell membranes removed. These matrices closely resemble the in vivo   
   environment, so they are used in regeneration and transplantation of   
   tissue and organs such as the heart and kidneys. They are also employed   
   in tissue fabrication through 3D printing.   
      
   The team developed a hydrogel based on UdECMs, with characteristics from   
   two different tissues: the entire uterine tissue and a specific layer of   
   the endometrium. The protein composition of the hydrogel closely resembled   
   the actual endometrial components and was tested in animal models to   
   verify its effectiveness. When injected, the hydrogel was found to induce   
   the recovery of the endometrial thickness in mice, creating a favorable   
   environment for embryo implantation. As a biomaterial, the hydrogel has   
   low cytotoxicity, ensuring a 90% survival rate of implanted embryos.   
      
   The research team further discovered the involvement of insulin-like   
   growth factor (IGF1) and insulin growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP3) in   
   endometrial regeneration. This discovery provides a platform for research   
   on endometrial regeneration going forward. In addition, depending on   
   the tissue from which the hydrogel is made, such as the endometrium   
   and muscles, the team confirmed therapeutic effects against various   
   conditions such as intrauterine adhesions and repeated implantation   
   failures. This opens the way for personalized treatments based on the   
   state of the patient's endometrium.   
      
   Professor Dong-Woo Cho, who led the research, is optimistic about their   
   research potential, stating "We have successfully developed a uterine   
   tissue- specific hydrogel for endometrial regeneration and successful   
   pregnancy. I am hopeful that further research into its clinical   
   application can bring hope to patients grappling with infertility."   
   This research was conducted with the support of the Mid-Career Research   
   Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Korean Fund   
   for Regenerative Medicine funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT and   
   the Ministry of Health and Welfare.   
      
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   Note: Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
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   Journal Reference:   
      1. Jungho Ahn, Tugce Sen, Danbi Lee, Hyeonji Kim, Jae Yeon Lee,   
      Hwa Seon   
         Koo, Jae Yun Kim, Jisoo Kim, Jinah Jang, Youn‐Jung   
         Kang, Dong‐Woo Cho. Uterus‐Derived Decellularized   
         Extracellular Matrix‐Mediated Endometrial Regeneration and   
         Fertility Enhancement.   
      
         Advanced Functional Materials, 2023; DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202214291   
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   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230703133023.htm   
      
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