Vigilancia Tecnológica

ABSTRACTThe loss of breast tissue is a problem that plagues many women. Total mastectomy procedures after breast cancer or extensive tissue loss by accident generate permanent aesthetic?functional lesions that are correlated with the loss of breastfeeding capacity, loss of self?esteem, anxiety, depression, reduced sexual attraction, hopelessness, and often, suicide. Although current clinical practices try to restore aesthetics, functional improvements are not readily resolved by these maneuvers. Those who undergo such procedures often end up with permanent aesthetic and functional injuries. The difficulty in regenerating breast tissue stems from its high structural complexity. In cases of extensive loss of breast tissue, the use of regeneration strategies becomes necessary for proper healing and tissue reconstruction. In this context, the use of regeneration scaffolds may open new possibilities for the regeneration of various body tissues, especially breast tissue, enabling the adequate healing of large injuries in different tissues. Hydrogels are examples of highly versatile materials for this application, given the range of methodologies for their preparation and composition components. The results of various studies indicate that the application of hydrogel?based scaffolds for breast regeneration is highly promising. Among the materials and systems most applied for this purpose, biodegradable polymers stand out due to their high biocompatibility and the ability for spontaneous removal from the organism. In this sector, systems obtained through 3D printing also stand out due to the increased predictability of geometry and pore distribution. However, it is noteworthy that the evaluated regeneration systems are primarily focused on regenerating adipose tissue, with no specific systems for the epithelial regeneration of the breasts or the areas of glandular tissue. These areas represent sectors that still need further exploration.