Hydrogel Helps Cleft Palates Heal

A hydrogel material developed at the University of Oxford promises better treatment for cleft palates – a birth defect that affects 1 in 700 babies in the UK – and for routine dental procedures.

The hydrogel breakthrough comes from Dr Jan Czernuszka and his team, including Dr Jinhyun Hannah Lee and Mr Zamri Radzi from the University's Department of Materials, in collaboration with the John Radcliffe Hospital and the Georgia Institute of Technology. The hydrogel can be used for a wide range of surgical applications, including restorative and general dentistry, treatment of congenital disorders and surgical reconstruction.

One application of the technology is the development of a new treatment for cleft palates which involves inserting an anisotropic hydrogel under the mucosa of the root of the mouth. Once inserted, the hydrogel gradually expands as fluid is absorbed, encouraging skin growth over and around the plate. After sufficient skin has been generated to repair the palatal cleft, the plate is removed and the cleft is repaired using this additional tissue. This technology will provide a reliable method for expansion of the soft tissue, thereby improving the outcome for cleft palate patients.