On 31st of July 2017, the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland (UPRP) granted a patent for a team from IPPT PAN, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre Polish Academy of Sciences (IMDiK PAN) and Medical University of Warsaw (WUM): Jarosław Andrychowski, Ph.D., Dr. Habil. , Prof. Małgorzata Frontczak-Baniewicz, Prof. Zbigniew Czernicki, Dorota Gołąbek-Sulejczak, Ph.D., Dr. Habil.; Tomasz Kowalczyk, Ph.D., and Prof. Tomasz A. Kowalewski. The invention title: "Use of polymer insulation mesh made from polymer nanofibers to prevent scarring after neurosurgery."
Fig. 1. Laminectomy. During this spinal cord surgery polymer insulation mesh made of nanofibers was applied.
This was the second in a series of patents based on non-clinical studies on the use of electrospun nanofibers in central nervous system therapy, and the third patent on electrospun nanofibers granted for IPPT PAN. The object of the present invention is to use nets of polymer nanofibers obtained in the electrostatic field as an insulating material after neurosurgical procedures. The inventors have shown an unexpected application of polymeric nanofibers made from lactic acid-based polymers for controlled isolation of the spinal canal, open by neurosurgical operation, from the surrounding connective tissue and thus to prevent scarring after neurosurgical treatment. The nanostructure of the multi-layered mesh provided insulation to the protected site while allowing the nutrients, oxygen and metabolites to pass. This has a beneficial effect on the healing of the postoperative wound. Fragments of the spine covered with insulating mesh were overgrown without a connective tissue scar, that is dangerous to the regeneration. The patent is based on the results of non-clinical studies on a small animal model.
Scientific publication