"Residents of Cali obtain an international
patent
thanks to an innovative patch
that regenerates heart tissue."
This is exciting news for the research community in Colombia, as the Universidad Autónoma de Occidente and the Universidad del Valle have received an international patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for their advancement in regenerative medicine.
The innovative Flexible Tissue Regeneration Implant, which functions as a heart tissue regenerator patch, has been recognized for its potential impact on cardiovascular health as it has the ability to regenerate heart tissue, facilitating the recovery of damaged areas and reducing the risk of chronic heart failure after a heart attack.
Paola Andrea Neuta, a professor at the Faculty of Health at the University of Valle, expressed the significance of this patent in terms of global reach: “Obtaining this patent is of great importance because it opens up the possibility of non-pharmacological treatment for people suffering from morbidities that diminish their quality of life as a consequence of a myocardial infarction. This doesn’t only happen in our country, but it is a global health problem, so for us it is very satisfying to demonstrate that in Colombia high-level research can be done that could solve a global problem.”
The regenerative patch contains a combination of specialized cells that work together to repair heart tissue. These cells are suspended in a gel-like biomaterial, designed to keep them alive while they integrate with the damaged heart tissue and carry out the recovery process.
Álvaro José Rojas, director of the Master’s program in Product Development Engineering at UAO, explains that the patch is composed of a collagen matrix created using 3D printing and is precisely applied to the damaged tissue. This technique allows for customization of the patch, adapting it to the patient’s anatomical characteristics and needs.
The creation of this biodevice was led by a multidisciplinary team of experts, including Álvaro José Rojas Arciniegas from UAO, Paola Andrea Neuta Arciniegas, and José Oscar Gutiérrez Montes from Universidad del Valle. Legal support and collaboration from the Research Results Transfer Office at Universidad del Valle, along with the Vice-Rector’s Office for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at UAO, were essential to the success of this pioneering project.
The Universidad Autónoma de Occidente (UAO) prioritizes the protection of intellectual property, providing comprehensive support to its professors in patent applications both in Colombia and abroad. Alexander García Dávalos, Director of Innovation Management and Transfer at UAO, emphasizes: “Our Vice-Rectorate for Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship supports faculty throughout the entire process. Obtaining this international patent reinforces the leading position of these experts from Cali in the field of regenerative medicine and promises a more hopeful future for those suffering from heart problems.”
Fuente: Universidad Autónoma – Red Universitaria Mutis
