New technology for the treatment of fatal hernias in infants

A bioengineering researcher at the University of Texas at Arlington is leading a team to develop a biodegradable elastic patch as a new treatment
for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

One in three newborns with this devastating disease dies
.
In the United States, five children are born with this birth defect
every day.

Professor Yi Hong of the Department of Bioengineering is teaming up with Aijun Wang and Diana L.
Farmer, PhDs, of the University of California, Davis, and Jun Liao, associate professor of bioengineering at UT Arlington University, to compete for a $441,000 grant
from the National Institutes of Health.

"We're building something
that allows kids to give, get, and grow with them," Hong said.
CDH is a serious birth defect characterized by incomplete
diaphragmatic development.

Hong said that DHE causes the stomach and intestines to enter the chest, which compresses the lungs and impairs development
.
Surgery can sometimes repair defects; Otherwise, prosthetic patches must be used as bridges
.
These patches are usually made from synthetic, less biologically active materials such as Gore-Tex
.

"When the surgery is done, the plaques don't grow
with the child.
" "Also, children often get hernias again
.
Therefore, developing a biodegradable, more natural solution is crucial
for the survival of these children.
”

Michael Cho, professor and chair of UTA's Department of Bioengineering, said it could be a life-saving study
.

"Dr.
Hong's research can help a lot of patients," Zhao said
.
"Taking research from our lab and using it in the medical field with partners makes UTA's research so personalized and so important
to the university's representative.
" It also represents the department's goal
of driving translational and transformative research.
”