Researchers have created a hydrogel implant that can aid in preventing endometriosis, a common condition affecting numerous women, while also serving as a contraceptive.
A team of researchers from ETH Zurich and Empa has developed a hydrogel implant that can assist in preventing endometriosis, a condition that affects many women, and also functions as a contraceptive.
Hydrogels have a wide range of applications, such as in contact lenses, medication delivery inside the body, moisturizers, water retention in soil, water purification, and as thickening agents. A hydrogel is a type of gel made from plastic that can retain water. Researchers at ETH Zurich and Empa have now introduced the first hydrogel implant specifically designed for fallopian tube use. This innovation is dual-purpose, acting as a contraceptive and also potentially preventing the onset or spread of endometriosis in women.
A few years ago, Inge Herrmann added a new member to her research team at the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH and Empa. This new addition was a senior gynecologist interested in pursuing research inspired by clinical practice. This interdisciplinary collaboration was a new venture for the team. Initially focused on developing a hydrogel as a novel form of contraception for women, discussions with the gynecologist revealed the possibility of using a hydrogel implant to block the fallopian tubes and potentially prevent endometriosis.
Preventing Endometriosis by Blocking the Fallopian Tubes
About 10% of women experience endometriosis, a condition whose exact cause remains uncertain. The theory suggests that during menstruation, blood containing endometrial cells flows back through the fallopian tubes into the abdominal cavity. These cells can then lead to inflammation, pain, and scar tissue formation. The research team devised a way to create a hydrogel implant capable of effectively blocking the fallopian tubes to prevent this retrograde menstruation. Their findings were published in the journal Advanced Materials. Alexandre Anthis, the lead author of the study, explained, “We found that the implant needed to be extremely soft, similar in texture to a jelly baby, to avoid adverse effects on native tissue and prevent rejection as a foreign body.”
An advantage of hydrogels is that they expand upon contact with liquid. Consequently, this new implant initially measures around two millimeters but swells to more than double its original size when placed in the fallopian tubes using a hysteroscope in a non-surgical procedure. The hydrogel creates a barrier against sperm and blood. In case of reversal, the implant can be easily dissolved with UV light or a special solution, eliminating the need for a risky invasive operation, as Herrmann explains.
Innovation through Collaborative Efforts
Anthis highlighted the challenge of finding the right balance between stability and degradability in the implant. “We aimed for compatibility and stability.” The researchers conducted initial experiments on human and animal fallopian tubes, and tested the hydrogel implant on a live pig, with promising results after three weeks. They have filed a patent with ETH and Empa, but further testing is required before the implant can be marketed. The long-term behavior of the implant in human fallopian tubes, particularly in physically active individuals, and its effectiveness in preventing endometriosis are subjects of ongoing research.
Herrmann stresses the significance of research at the intersection of materials science, process engineering, and gynecology. The team hopes their work will contribute meaningfully in this area, with the aim of translating innovative material technologies into clinical applications. Herrmann recently established the Ingenuity Lab at the University Hospital Balgrist, focusing on advancing material technologies for medical purposes.
