“9.61x6.69” b2815 Tissue Engineering and Nanotheranostics
Characterization of Biomaterial Patches as Fetal Surgery Implants 311.3. Myelomeningocele Repair
Prenatal or postnatal surgery is the only choice for alleviating MMC.^6
It is impossible to restore activity in the damaged nerve tissues.
Specific organizations in the United States possess the competency to
execute fetal surgery for treatment of MMC through National
Institute of Health (NIH) experimented protocol.^7 Open surgery
involves dural closure followed by suturing of spinal defect, but it
poses a potential risk for both mother and fetus.^8 Recent studies have
indicated benefits of a fetoscopic approach, which consists of suturing
the skin over a polymeric patch.^8 Recently, researchers have aug-
mented a coverage method comprising patch placement over the
defect and adhesion using a sealant, which displayed encouraging
outcomes in fetal sheep and two human procedures.^8 The properties
of patches used are of utmost importance, since they would gov-
ern the performance after implantation and in turn affect the
Fig. 1. Spina Bifida defect.^5