IKC Annual Review 2016 1 | Page 11

ANNUAL REVIEW | 2016 | 11 DIRECTLY IMPLANTED DEVICES New grants awarded Five proof of concept grants were awarded in 2016 1 STERILISING ACELLULAR GRAFTS A collaboration with NHS Blood and Transplant Tissue and Eye Services will investigate whether a new sterilisation process they have developed could be used in human tissue grafts. Existing methods, using gamma irradiation, have been shown to affect the biomechanical properties of some donor tissues. A team led by Professor Eileen Ingham, at the University of Leeds, will test the new process using decellularised human bone-tendon-bone grafts and evaluate its effect on the biomechanics and biology of the tissue. 2 BIORESORBABLE SCAFFOLD TO TREAT INFECTED WOUNDS A project led by the University of Bradford’s Professor Des Tobin will establish if the antimicrobial action of a bioresorbable scaffold loaded with a photosensitive agent could treat chronic, infected wounds when activated by light. The in vitro tests will also determine the effect of light at defined wavelengths to decontaminate the wound and prime the wound bed for healing before the scaffold’s application. The collaboration includes regenerative medicine company, Neotherix, and the NIHR WoundTec Healthcare Technology Co-operative. 3 REGENERATIVE CELLS TO PREVENT ANASTOMOTIC LEAKS Professor David Jayne from the University of Leeds will lead a project to investigate whether regenerative cells derived from the omentum – the fatty tissue that covers the intestines and organs in the lower abdomen – can be used to prevent leaks that can occur in the connections between intestines, called anastomoses, following gastrointestinal surgery. Anastomotic leakage is the most significant complication after colorectal surgery and is a major cause of postoperative mortality. 4 5 ACELLULAR SCAFFOLD FOR BLADDER RECONSTRUCTION NEW SIMULATIONS TO ASSESS TISSUE REPAIRS Professor Jenny Southgate and colleagues will examine whether the natural biomaterial PABM (porcine acellular bladder matrix) could be useful in bladder reconstructive surgery. A team led by Louise Jennings, Associate Professor of Medical Engineering at Leeds, is developing preclinical experimental simulation methods to assess the biomechanical and tribological performance of tissue repair interventions for the patellofemoral joint that are made from decellularised human or porcine materials (see p16). n PABM is produced using a decellularisation technique being commercialised by Tissue Regenix and has been successfully tested in a previous proof of concept project looking at the surgical correction of hypospadias – a common congenital urinary tract condition in boys.