Today, we will be learning about my research and what I do daily in the laboratory! I am working on a project to help people when a small tube in their body, called the bile duct, gets blocked. The bile duct helps move a liquid that helps us digest food, which is called bile. Major issues can happen if there is a blockage or the bile leaks out of the duct. To fix the blockage or break, doctors use a tiny tube called a stent to hold the bile duct open. The issue is that the stents used in medicine currently need to be replaced every 6-12 months and require surgery. Unfortunately, repeated surgeries to replace the stent can cause complications and other medical issues with the patient.
I am working alongside others in the laboratory to create a special stent - one that is biodegradable, which means it slowly breaks down and disappears inside the body, so it does not need to be taken out later and replaced. However, the stent still needs to be strong, so my coworkers have designed and used special chemical compounds that are durable and can last for a few months while the body heals. One of the chemical compounds is called collagen and is naturally found in your bones, skin and muscles!
