RESTIEX

Most current tissue expanders are comprised of a silicon rubber balloon through which saline is injected causing the balloon to inflate stretching the tissue.  These expanders must be injected repeatedly over the course of several weeks to months in order to stretch the tissue to the desired size.  Due to these multiple injections and these materials being made of non-biocompatible materials the incidence of infection with this procedure is fairly high (an estimated 2-15%).

Typical tissue expander used in breast reconstruction.

The objective of current tissue expanding hydrogels research at Akina, Inc. is to develop a novel hydrogel-based tissue expander that has delayed expansion with the capacity to be reshaped by the surgeon at the time of implantation. This is accomplished by chemically conjugating “delay” components with “swelling” components so that as the hydrogel is exposed to moisture its expansion is in a slow and delayed manner allowing for the tissue to be expanded without damage or necrosis.

By altering the composition of the “swelling” and “delay” components these hydrogels can have their swelling properties altered.

A hydrogel swelling in a delayed fashion.

Hydrogel usage in a dental application.

Also, judicious selection of these ingredients creates an expander that is very flexible and soft while it is dry allowing it to be cut by the surgeon at the time of implantation allowing voids of any size and shape to be custom filled.

A hydrogel expander normal and being flexed between fingers. Note its elasticity.

These hydrogels can serve as tissue expanders by having their delay time preprogrammed to allow the initial incision to heal prior to expansion.  Phase I research performed at Akina, supported by NIH small business innovative research grant, has established that these hydrogels can be made that fit the requirements necessary for a surgical device.  Akina has been awarded a phase II research grant by the NIH and is currently determining safety and efficacy of these devices for use in dental applications.