Healshape raises $6.8 million to advance its 3D bioprinting of breast implants

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization, more than 2 million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. It is the most prevalent cancer in women in the world, killing nearly 700,000 people each year.About 40% of people diagnosed with the disease end up having to undergo mastectomyOperation, this surgery involves partial or complete removal of the affected breast tissue. However, with modern treatments, the survival rate is over 90%, which means that more and more women are seeking breast reconstruction treatments to replace lost tissue.

20 January 2022 Regeneration based in Lyon, FrancemedicineStartup Healshape in Series AfinancingRaised $6.8 million to develop 3D using living patient cellsbiologyprint breastsImplants.The company, backed by technology transfer accelerator Pulsalys SAS, has received more than $1 million in pro bono funds and subsidies from France since its launch in January 2020. Healshape’s mission is to provide patient-specific3D bioprintingBreast prosthesis. These implants can be printed in virtually any shape and size and help rebuild breast volume and the nipple-areola complex without the risk of implant rejection.

Sophie Brac de la Perrière, CEO of Healshape, said: “Female patients will have their breasts restored within 6 to 9 months, with no trace of a bioprosthesis. This will help patients accept their own image and recreate their own body. Satisfied.”

△Healshape scientists3D bioprintingCustom breast implants. Photo via Healshape.

Many of these breast reconstruction procedures involve the use of artificial implants or soft tissue matrices from other humans and animals. Unfortunately, implants from these sources can cause too much variation for the treatment to be considered reliable, and there is always a risk of an immune response that could slow the healing process.

Healshape’s approach to tissue engineering aims to address these issues by combining 3D bioprinting with living cell cultures taken from the patient’s own body.

Bioprinted absorbable breast implants

Healshape’s bioprosthesis technology relies on an absorbable hydrogel that can be 3D bioprinted into any freeform shape. Once implanted in a patient, fat transfer from the patient’s own body cells aids in the colonization of the breast implant and allows it to develop into native breast tissue, while all of this hydrogel is gradually absorbed and replaced.

Healshape’s technology is the result of extensive bioprinting research carried out in collaboration with a research group led by Christophe Marquette, a senior at the Institute for Molecular and Supramolecular Studies at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (ICBMS) researcher. Marquette also leads the 3d.FAB platform and founded the tissue engineering company LabSkin Creations. Healshape’s bioink technology is currently patent protected.
Marquette added: “Originally, the technology was developed for printing skin substitutes. For the Healshape project, it was necessary to adapt the process to print volumes and ensure subsequent consolidation of the bioink to make it compatible for implantation in vivo “.
Healshape’s 3D bioprinting technology is currently in
clinical
In the pre-stage, clinical trials are expected to begin within the next two years.

△Bioprinted breast implants contain patient cells to improve transplant success. Image via Healshape.

Just recently, South Korea-based biotech startup Plcoskin announced that it would lead an international joint research project focused on developing a novel3D printingBreast Implants. Plcoskin will collaborate with Yonsei University and the Netherlands-based
medical
Along with equipment coating company LipoCoat, it has secured about 2 billion won ($1.7 million) in funding over the next three years.

In other places,3D printingMachine manufacturer 3D Systems recently announced a co-development agreement with regenerative medicine company CollPlant to develop 3D bioprinted soft tissue constructs for breast reconstruction treatments. Implemented in conjunction with breast implants, soft tissue structures will be used to provide support to the lower part of the breast and to expand the implant pocket, increasing the overall coverage of the implant. Like Healshape, its ultimate goal is to improve the success of breast reconstruction surgery for cancer survivors.

(responsible editor: admin)

Healshape raises $6.8 million to advance its 3D bioprinting of breast implants

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