Injectable Biomimetic Hydrogel Constructs for Cell-Based Menopausal Hormone Therapy with Reduced Breast Cancer Potential.

ABSTRACT: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been a primary method in menopausal women and patients with ablated ovaries, but safety has been a concern. Cell-based HRT has emerged as an alternative approach without side effects causing pharmaceutical HRT via 3-dimensionally engineered constructs layering ovarian hormone-producing cells. In this study, we applied micro-sized ovarian cell-laden hydrogel beads as an approach to cell-based HRT using a minimally invasive method in the menopausal rat model. Here, we constructed GC/TC-laden microbeads (GTBs; GC, granulosa cell; TC, theca cell) that allow crosstalk between endocrine cells, encapsulating multiple beads for the figuration of the original ovary. We assessed the ovarian hormone production function of GTB through in vitro culture for 90 days.

SUBMITTER: Yang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11310713 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature