Personalized 3D-printed nipple and areola implants
3D Bioprinted Nipple-Areolar Complex Implants
This project will develop personalized, dissolvable 3D-printed nipple and areola implants to help women after mastectomy regain a more natural breast appearance.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324261 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will design and 3D-print personalized, bioresorbable nipple-areola implants using a two-polymer system that sets the shape and encourages tissue growth. They will use computer-aided designs to test different nipple and areola sizes, shapes, and internal patterns before fabricating implants. Lab and preclinical tests will look at shape retention, mechanical properties, cell seeding, and tissue ingrowth. Over time the implant is designed to degrade and leave behind reconstructed tissue that resembles a natural nipple and areola.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who have had or will have a mastectomy and are interested in personalized implant-based nipple and areola reconstruction once clinical testing begins.
Not a fit: People seeking an immediately available clinical option today, those not eligible for implant-based reconstruction, or those with active infections or poor wound healing are unlikely to benefit from this early-stage work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give mastectomy patients a more natural-looking, long-lasting nipple and areola reconstruction without repeated surgeries.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory and animal studies of tissue-engineered nipples have shown promise, but there is not yet a widely used clinical solution, so this approach remains experimental.
Where this research is happening
College Park, United States
- Univ of Maryland, College Park — College Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fisher, John P — Univ of Maryland, College Park
- Study coordinator: Fisher, John P
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.