BIOCOIL (Bioresorbable coiled materials to treat pelvic congestion syndrome)

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS) is a chronic condition that causes persistent pelvic pain, mainly in women of reproductive age. It is linked to venous insufficiency and varicose veins in the pelvic region, where blood pools instead of circulating properly. PCS is often underdiagnosed, with around 30% of affected women misattributing symptoms to menstrual pain. The burden is significant: PCS is estimated to account for 40% of chronic pelvic pain cases, with high medical costs (≈$1.2 billion annually) and lost productivity (≈$15 billion annually).

The current treatment standard is transcatheter ovarian vein embolization using multiple permanent metallic coils (usually more than six per patient). While effective, these permanent implants may complicate future diagnoses and treatments, especially for young women. Thus, there is a pressing need for safer, temporary, and adaptable alternatives that match pelvic vein anatomy, achieve embolization, and degrade naturally over time without long-term complications.

This project aims to develop bioresorbable coils as a next-generation therapy for PCS. The work plan involves two coordinated subprojects: (1) designing and 3D-printing vein models to create polymeric coils with auxetic designs that adapt to patient-specific anatomy, and (2) manufacturing bioresorbable metallic coils engineered with surface features to deliver embolizing agents. Both approaches will be tested for biocompatibility, embolization efficiency, and safe degradation, with validation in simplified animal models. Led by a multidisciplinary team from IQS, UPC, and MIT, the project combines cutting-edge biomedical engineering with clinical relevance to provide a transformative solution for women’s health. The project is funded by the AEI 2024 Call – “Proyectos de Generación de Conocimiento, ref. PID2024-161387OB-C21″