Avant-Garde Experiment: Animal Fetuses Survive 12 Days

Photos: Fundación “La Caixa”

HOSPITALS SANT JOAN DE DÉU AND CLÍNIC DE BARCELONA DEVELOP ARTIFICIAL PLACENTAS FOR PREMATURE BABIES UTILIZING OUR INNOVATIVE GAS MIXER FOR BETTER OXYGENATION.

In an innovative experiment, animal fetuses successfully survived for 12 days in excellent condition. The hospitals Sant Joan de Déu and Clínic de Barcelona have been collaborating on the creation of an artiﬁcial placenta to save extremely premature babies, born before 26 weeks of gestation. The artiﬁcial placenta, which mimics the vital conditions provided by the mother’s placenta, has not only extended the life of animal fetuses but also holds the potential to revolutionize the survival rates of premature infants worldwide.

Eduard Gratacós, the Project Leader/Director of the project, described the endeavor as an incredibly challenging task that required outsmarting nature itself. He explained, “Having achieved a survival period of 12 days outside the mother’s womb is a feat in itself, considering that the norm is just two minutes. The artiﬁcial placenta has the potential to signiﬁcantly improve the survival chances of premature babies, who often suffer severe long-term consequences.”

IN WHAT WAY DID OUR GAS MIXER CONTRIBUTE TO THIS RESEARCH ENDEAVOR?

Part of the success of this research was the contribution of our Gas Mixer, which played a vital role in managing the ﬂow of oxygen and other gases in the artiﬁcial placenta.
The gas mixer, developed by the MCQ Instruments team, enabled the oxygenator to precisely regulate and optimize the gas mixture, creating an ideal environment for the fetus.

This innovative technology ensured that the necessary levels of oxygen were delivered, mimicking the conditions provided by the mother’s natural placenta. The gas mixer’s precise control over gas ﬂow greatly enhanced the viability and well-being of the animal fetuses, laying the foundation for further advancements in this remarkable research.

GAS MIXERS IN FETAL RESEARCH

FUNDING AND AMBITION: THE CAIXARESEARCH PLACENTA ARTIFICIAL PROJECT.

The project, known as ‘The Caixaresearch Placenta Artificial Project,’ received substantial funding from La Caixa Foundation, with an initial investment of 3.35 million euros and an additional 4.3 million euros for the upcoming second phase. This complex and ambitious initiative is expected to position Europe as a pioneer in artiﬁcial placenta technology and become the second such project globally.

During the initial stage of the experiment, doctors managed to extend the lives of extremely premature lamb fetuses (between 95 and 110 days) up to 12 days. The choice of using lamb fetuses was driven by their cardiovascular similarity to humans. Building upon this success, the medical team aims to further prolong the survival period to “three or four weeks” during the upcoming second phase. If achieved, this milestone would represent a radical shift in the outlook for premature infants.

Approximately 25,000 extremely premature babies are born in Europe each year, with a mortality rate of 20% for those born at 25 or 26 weeks and up to 80% for those born at 22 or 23 weeks. The survival of these infants often comes with a multitude of risks, including neurological and respiratory complications.

Photos: Fundación “La Caixa”

REPLICATING INTRAUTERINE CONDITIONS: THE ARTIFICIAL PLACENTA’S DESIGN.

The artiﬁcial placenta creates an environment outside the mother’s uterus that replicates intrauterine conditions. It consists of a translucent bag where the fetus remains connected to the umbilical cord.

While the fetus needs to be shielded from light, doctors can monitor it using ultrasounds and access it through a robotic arm. The project aims to address the signiﬁcant challenges posed by extreme prematurity, as existing solutions fall short for infants born before 26 weeks of gestation.

Explaining the functionality of the artiﬁcial placenta, Eduard Gratacós emphasized the need for a successful transition from the mother’s placenta to the artiﬁcial one, which requires a delicate and swift detachment of the umbilical cord. The medical team has devised a surgical technique that ensures 100% successful transitions.

Elisenda Eixarch, the senior scientiﬁc coordinator of the project, added that the initial prototype of the artiﬁcial placenta was developed in a liquid medium, providing isolation and protection against infections. The optimized conditions enabled the survival of the fetus for up to 12 days.

Photos: Fundación “La Caixa”

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PROSPECTS: ADVANCING NEONATAL CARE.

In the upcoming second phase, the medical team will focus on extending the survival period to three or four weeks and setting the system ready for use in a real clinical situation.

While the exact timeline for the integration of artiﬁcial placentas in human care remains uncertain, Gratacós anticipates that within two to three years, the project could be implemented on a compassionate-use basis.

The development of the artiﬁcial placenta faces challenges, as the ideal materials for its construction have yet to be discovered. Nonetheless, the medical team is committed to overcoming these obstacles to bring this life-saving technology to fruition.

As the medical community eagerly anticipates further breakthroughs, the artiﬁcial placenta project continues to offer hope for improving the survival rates and long-term outcomes of premature infants. With the potential to save countless lives, this innovative solution marks a signiﬁcant stride forward in the ﬁeld of neonatal care.