Scientists have created a revolutionary “promising” latest erectile dysfunction treatment by studying bionic pig penises.
In a study, published Wednesday within the journal Matter, Chinese researchers innovated a man-made tunica albuginea (ATA), mimicking real tunica albuginea, the connective tissue accountable for penis erection during sexual arousal. The ATA was placed into pig penises with tunica albuginea injuries, and it was found the previous was in a position to restore erectile function in animals.
First, a temporary on penis anatomy is so as. The tunica albuginea is a thick sheath fabricated from densely packed and highly organized collagen and elastin fibers that surround the penis. It prevents the blood within the penis’ other spongy structures from moving back into the principal circulation, in effect, maintaining an erection.
The researchers succeeded in making a hydrogel-based artificial tunica albuginea using a fabric called polyvinyl alcohol.
For the study, the researchers tested their ATA in 12 mini-pigs often known as Bama pigs, all having damaged tunica albugineas. The pigs were divided into three groups — one was control with no treatment, one got ATA, and the third one which got a suture surgery.
The second group had small artificial tunica albuginea patches inserted into penises, instead of damaged parts.
Following evaluation, it was found that the ATA group pigs “regained normal erection immediately after using [the artificial tunica albuginea],” Xuetao Shi, a professor of tissue engineering on the South China University of Technology and lead writer of the study, said in a press release.
“The best advantage of the [artificial tunica albuginea] we report is that it achieves tissue-like functions by mimicking the microstructure of natural tissues,” Shi noted.
“Our work at this stage focuses on the repair of a single tissue within the penis, and the subsequent stage shall be to contemplate the repair of the general penile defect or the development of a man-made penis from a holistic perspective,” Shi added.
In accordance with the researchers, about 50% of men aged 40-70 are afflicted with some type of erectile dysfunction. Also, an estimated 5% suffer from Peyronie’s disease, a condition by which scar tissue forms within the tunica albuginea.
“We noticed that that is an area that has received little attention, yet the related need is big,” Shi said.
“The study shows that the bogus biomaterial created can adequately repair these defects, with good outcomes short term,” Anthony Atala, a pediatric urologist and director of the Wake Forest Institute For Regenerative Medicine and who was not involved within the study, told Inverse. “The technology is promising and warrants further investigation in order that it could actually someday be safely transitioned to human patients who can profit from this advance.”
Shi and his colleagues imagine their invention will be applied to other load-bearing soft tissues reminiscent of blood vessels, intestines, tendons, the bladder, and the center. Furthermore, the researchers are hopeful that this technology could encourage electronic skins, wearable devices, implantable sensors, and soft, flesh-like robots.