A study to be published in this month's Tissue Engineering report of a novel method of growing immature follicles to fully mature eggs in vitro. The three dimensional culture sytem described, which uses the biomaterial alginate, encapsulates the follicles and allows immature eggs to grow and mature outside the body. When tested in mice, the procedure resulted to live births following in vitro fertilization (IVF).

"While the research is in its early stages, this work has implications for the preservation of fertility for women and girls with cancer," said Teresa K. Woodruff, Professor of Neurobiology and Physiology who led the study together with Lonnie D. Shea, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering. "This system establishes a core technology for human egg banks for preservation of fertility."

If proven successful in humans, this research can have an impact on preserving fertility, particularly for females undergoing cancer treatment and other aggressive therapies. More details from the Northwestern University.

[Photo: University of Arizona Biology Project ]