Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
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Aida Baghdasaryan, a researcher at the Molecular Pathophysiology Laboratory at the RUDN University Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, won the 30th International Pirogov Scientific Medical Conference for Students and Young Scientists. Her presentation in the "Fundamental Medicine" section focused on the prospective evaluation of bioresorbable 3D polymer scaffolds—materials that have the potential to revolutionize approaches to tissue reconstruction.
About the study
In her paper, Aida Baghdasaryan presented the results of a preclinical study of the behavior of bioresorbable polymers in vivo. The study aims to address key issues in regenerative medicine: the safety of the materials, their absorption rate, and their ability to serve as a temporary scaffold for tissue repair. These data are essential for developing new solutions in reconstructive surgery, where not only biocompatibility but also the ability to precisely restore shape are important.
The practical significance of this work is closely linked to oncology. As the researcher explained, the need for such technologies is most acute in breast reconstruction after mastectomy.
"Breast cancer is the most common oncological pathology in women, and in approximately 60% of cases, treatment requires a mastectomy, that is, complete removal of the breast. After this, the question arises of restoring the volume and shape of the tissue. Currently, either silicone implants or the patient's own tissue are mainly used for reconstruction. However, both approaches have their limitations. Silicone implants are not a lifelong solution and often require replacement after about 10 years. Autologous reconstruction, that is, transplanting one's own tissue, is more traumatic because it requires an additional surgery and affects the donor site," says Aida Baghdasaryan.
According to RUDN University scientists, a bioresorbable implant could be an alternative. It serves as a temporary scaffold and gradually degrades, giving way to the patient's own tissue. This avoids the long-term presence of foreign material in the body and reduces the trauma typical of autologous transplantation.
During the study, the lab researcher used a subcutaneous implantation model in rats. As Aida noted, this model is a convenient and informative first step for preclinical evaluation. It allows for a detailed study of the material's interaction with tissue, assessing inflammatory reactions and toxic effects, and determining the rate of bioresorption. For reconstructive surgery, such analysis is a crucial step before moving on to more complex trials.
Prospects and interdisciplinary collaboration
Aida Baghdasaryan emphasized that the presented work is only an early stage in the development of new bioresorbable implants. These developments could potentially find application not only in breast reconstruction, but also in a wide range of plastic and reconstructive surgery, as well as in personalized tissue engineering approaches.
A key factor in the success was the close collaboration between the two research centers. The researcher explained that the project is being implemented at the V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, which boasts a robust clinical base and research departments. Some experiments, particularly animal studies and histological analysis, were conducted jointly with RUDN University. This collaboration significantly expanded the range of applicable methods and strengthened the scientific component of the work.
Impressions from the conference
For the young woman, winning the prestigious Pirogov Conference was recognition of the relevance of her research.
"For me, this is a very important and motivating recognition of my work. It means the topic is truly interesting to the scientific community. Furthermore, such a victory gives additional confidence that the project is moving in the right direction and has good prospects for further research," says Aida Baghdasaryan.
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