Development of a Novel Intraluminal Hydrogel for Epithelial Tissue Expansion
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of Veterinary Medicine and Sci
Abstract
Hydrogel tissue expanders for keratinized epithelial tissue have successfully made the transition from bench to bedside, for example, as an adjunct to surgical resection and treatment of cleft palate. However, for other non-keratinised epithelial tissue such as the squamous and stratified tissue of the uro-genital tract there are specific difficulties with appropriate tissue expansion. This project aims to develop and test a novel anisotrophic tissue expander for non-keratinized epithelial tissue. This is primarily a laboratory based project which will develop skills in molecular biology (e.g. RNAseq,), microbiology (e.g. metagenomics), histopathology (e.g. immunohistochemistry) and bioinformatics. In addition, the project has an industrial partner and time will be spent working with a company based in Oxford, UK.
| Description | Anisotropic Hydrogel Self-Expander Development |
| Organisation | Oxtex Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration was arranged as part of the industrial aspect of my BBSRC iCASE studentship. I attended an industrial placement at the offices and clean room of Oxtex Ltd. This included observing and assisting with the production of Oxtex's commercial veterinary and medical expanding devices, predominantly use for skin expansion. I also worked alongside the Chief Operating Officer, multiple veterinary clinical specialists and the materials engineer to start the development of a self expanding tissue expander using the companies patented product. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Oxtex provided the raw materials and members of staff expertise to start the development of the expanders required for this research project. However, the development of the expander never progressed and Oxtex failed to produce a functional tissue expander before the company went into administration and ceased trading and production. |
| Impact | Production of a functional tissue expander did not occur during this collaboration and so there were no outputs. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | British Association of Paediatric Surgeons Oral Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I presented a brief oral presentation at a conference for paediatric surgeons and affiliated health industries. The presentation included a short introduction to the clinical presentation of patients with cloacal malformations and the current surgical repair techniques used to correct them. I justified the use of the pig as a model for children with cloacal malformations and discussed the future plans of the research project. The presentation ended with multiple questions from the audience and discussion of the proposed use of tissue expanders in delicate surgery. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Poster Presentation at Fertility 2020 conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I gave a poster presentation at Fertility 2020 conference in Glasgow, I was one of 200 poster presenters. Over 1,500 people attended the conference, including academics, fertility industry representers and fertility business people. After the presentation there were multiple, lengthy discussions about the impact of the research project on paediatric patients. The conference offered great opportunities to share the ongoing outcomes of the project and take on other people's opinions and thoughts on how to proceed with the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |