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BMES High School Student Chapter Member

HS Poster

Poster 18 - Analyzing Physicochemical Properties of Hydrogel Implants for Alleviating Pain in Patients with Degenerative Disc Disease

Saturday, October 26, 2024
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST
Location: Exhibit Hall E, F & G

Introduction: Lower Back Pain (LBP), affecting approximately 80% of the population, is a prevalent global concern, predominantly associated with Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD). Current treatment options exhibit limited efficacy, prompting the exploration of innovative approaches like non-invasive nucleus pulposus replacement technologies. Notably, HYDRAFIL™ by ReGelTec Inc., a hydrogel implant, has shown promise in terms of biocompatibility and pain reduction. However, understanding the mechanism underlying pain reduction remains a critical knowledge gap, and addressing it can provide insight into better-developed technology directed at pain-reducing mechanisms. This study focuses on analyzing the physicochemical properties of HYDRAFIL™, hypothesizing that the hydrogel can block tears from degeneration, thereby inhibiting pro-inflammatory proteins in the nucleus pulposus (NP) from reaching the nerves in the outer ⅓ region of the annulus fibrosus (AF).

Materials and

Methods: In this study, dead bovine tail models were subjected to degeneration through cavities created with biopsy punches and needles. A BaSO4 contrast dye was injected into the cavity and subjected to MicroCT imaging as the control. Subsequently, the same cavities were injected with HYDRAFIL™, followed by another round of MicroCT imaging for the experimental group. Data analysis involved segmenting the cavity and gel into separate 3D shapes and comparing them on CloudCompare.

Results, Conclusions, and Discussions: Gauging analysis histograms revealed a predominantly blue-green color map, indicating a moderate to almost perfect match between both groups. Furthermore, the volume and surface area metrics of the gel were approximately three times greater than those of the cavity. These results suggest strong conformity between the shapes of the hydrogel and cavity, and that the greater volume gel likely covers the full extent of the cavity. Thus, supporting the barricading effects of HYDRAFIL™, which suggests that these implants have the potential to block pro-inflammatory proteins in the NP from reaching the nerves in the AF. However, even though the conclusions drawn from the data support that HYDRAFIL™ does have barricading functions, the study does not track the movement of cytokines. Thus, further steps are needed to quantify cytokines directly; this could involve using immunofluorescent staining or a FITC model to track the flow of cytokines within the vertebral disc.

Acknowledgements (Optional): I would like to express my gratitude to my mentors, Dr. Erik Brewer and his PhD student, Antonio Abbondandolo, for their guidance throughout the project. I would also like to thank ReGelTec Inc. for providing the funding for this project.

References (Optional): Beall, Douglas P et al. “Hydrogel Augmentation of the Lumbar Intervertebral Disc: An Early Feasibility Study of a Treatment for Discogenic Low Back Pain.” Journal of vascular and interventional radiology: JVIR vol. 35,1 (2024): 51-58.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jvir.2023.09.018
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