Scientists at the University of California, San Diego, have developed a groundbreaking biomaterial that could transform the treatment of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, a condition affecting up to 84% of menopausal women. The syndrome, which causes vaginal dryness, irritation, and painful intercourse, significantly impacts quality of life. Current treatments, such as estrogen creams, address surface symptoms but fail to improve deeper tissue health.
The research team, led by Dr. Marianna Alperin, has created a gel-like biomaterial derived from porcine vaginal tissue to mimic the natural vaginal environment and promote tissue healing. The tissue was processed through a series of steps, including mincing, decellularization, lyophilization, and enzymatic digestion, to produce a vaginal extracellular matrix biomaterial.
In preclinical trials on rats, which share similar vaginal tissue characteristics with humans, the biomaterial showed significant benefits. Rats treated with the material demonstrated improved vaginal epithelial thickness and healthier vaginal lining. Three days after treatment:
- Epithelial thickness in the biomaterial group measured 32.37 ± 6.29 µm, compared to 19.00 ± 1.59 µm in the saline control group (P < .0001).
- Smooth muscle layer thickness in the treated group reached 54.02 ± 10.56 µm, compared to 35.07 ± 7.80 µm in the saline group (P < .05).
The biomaterial also enhanced the deeper muscle layer of the vagina, a result not typically achieved with existing treatments.
Dr. Alperin explained that the biomaterial appears to interact with immune cells, allowing it to penetrate deeper into the vaginal tissues and deliver healing effects. “It looks like the cells are trafficking the biomaterial into the deeper tissues, which is very exciting,” she said.
Additionally, the study found that higher doses of the material resulted in greater benefits, indicating a dose-dependent effect. While the biomaterial didn’t fully restore epithelial thickness to healthy, untreated levels, it demonstrated significantly superior outcomes compared to saline controls.
The research was recognized as the best overall paper at the American Urogynecologic Society’s PFD Week conference in Washington, DC. While the findings are promising, Dr. Alperin emphasized the need for further research, particularly in comparing the biomaterial’s effectiveness with existing topical estrogen treatments.
“We are repeating the experiment with the dose adjusted to the volume of the rat vagina,” she added, noting that continued studies will be crucial to refine the treatment and evaluate its potential for human use.
As reported by medscape, this novel approach could represent a major step forward in addressing both the surface and deeper tissue symptoms of menopausal vaginal changes, offering hope for improved quality of life for millions of women.