Recently, the interest of the scientific community is focused on the application of tissue engineering approach for the fertility restoration. In this paper innovative patterned electrospun fibrous scaffolds were fabricated and used as 3D system for porcine follicles culture. The obtained scaffolds demonstrated to be a suitable support which did not alter or interfere with the typical spherical follicles morphology. The fibrillar structure of the scaffolds mimics the morphology of the healthy native tissue. The use of porcine follicles implied many advantages respect to the use of mouse model. Relevant results showed that more than the scaffold pattern and struts dimension, the selection of proper biomaterials improve the follicles adhesion and development.

The treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a socioeconomic and medical as well as technological challenge. Current artificial urinary sphincters (AUS) require invasive surgery, have high complication rates, are not sex independent, or are technically immature. This publication presents an improved version of a minimally invasive, mechatronic intraurethral sphincter prosthesis. It uses a new actuator design based on elastomer compression, a new assembly process, and silicone overmolding to improve functionality, reliability, biocompatibility, and manufacturability. The new design increases the flow channel area by more than 175%, reduces the required actuation stroke by 33%, and achieves easier assembly and complete hermetic sealing of the components. The new design lays the foundation for further research, not only for intraurethral sphincter prostheses, but also for pinch valves in general, which have a large ratio of flow area to build volume and low energy consumption.