The Development of a Support Matrix as a New Option for the Tissue Regeneration of Mastectomized Women

Abstract

This work describes the development of a hydrogel of Polyvinyl Alcohol and Hydroxy Ethyl Cellulose (PVA:HEC) for the regeneration of adipose tissue for women who suffered a radical mastectomy. In 2015 a PVA hydrogel was enriched with different amounts of HEC looking for hydrogel to use a support matrix of the adipose tissue. In vivo tests in female rabbits indicated that PVA hydrogel with 30 %w HEC may provide a viable approach for the regeneration of adipose tissue as first step as an alternative solution [1]. After this result, the PVA;HEC hydrogel was modified to obtain a conical material to promote the growing of adipose tissue in the thoracic region of female Balb-C mice. In this case, the reasons to modify the hydrogel are described.