Over the past year, more than 370,000 South Koreans sought medical help for infertility or related difficulties, according to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service. This marks a 4.7% rise in treatments for infertility and a 16% increase in treatments for subfertility compared to 2018. While Korea’s birth rate continues to decline, the demand for fertility treatments is on the rise. Addressing infertility requires careful diagnosis, taking into account both the individual’s gender and the nature of the problem.
A critical factor in successful pregnancies is a healthy endometrium, the lining of the uterus. A thin endometrium can prevent proper embryo implantation and lead to miscarriage, making it a major cause of female infertility. Traditional treatments like hormone therapy and endometrial injections have shown limited success. However, a research team from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and CHA University has taken a significant step towards personalized treatment. They have developed a hydrogel that mimics the uterine environment and encourages endometrial regeneration.
The team, led by Professor Dong-Woo Cho from POSTECH and Professor Youn-Jung Kang from CHA University, created a hydrogel using a decellularized extracellular matrix (UdECM) derived from uterine tissue. This matrix, which removes cellular components like the nucleus, closely resembles the body’s natural environment and is used in tissue regeneration. The hydrogel was designed to replicate both the uterine tissue and the specific endometrial layer.
In animal trials, the hydrogel effectively regenerated the endometrial lining in mice, improving the chances for embryo implantation. It also had low toxicity, ensuring that 90% of implanted embryos survived. Additionally, the research team identified key proteins involved in the regeneration process, including insulin-like growth factor (IGF1) and its binding protein (IGFBP3). These findings open up possibilities for further research into endometrial regeneration and more personalized fertility treatments.
The hydrogel may also offer therapeutic potential for other conditions like intrauterine adhesions and repeated implantation failures. This breakthrough could pave the way for tailored treatments based on a patient’s specific condition.
Professor Cho expressed hope for the future, stating, “We have developed a uterine tissue-specific hydrogel for endometrial regeneration. I am hopeful that further research can lead to clinical applications that will offer hope to those struggling with infertility.”
This research was supported by 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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