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Surgical mesh.
Okay, hear me out.
I have a 3x3in surgical mesh square laid across my lower abs from a hernia I gave myself squatting at the gym. I’ve never had any issues with it and I’ve completely forgotten it’s there. It’s made of a combination of polymers, but mostly polypropylene.
They placed it by making two circular incisions about the diameter of a pea and pushing it through one like a Kleenex through a straw, then used scopes with spider claws on the ends through either incision to spread it out flat and sew it down.
This gave me a few ideas that all revolve around a custom made surgical mesh that is laid subdermally underneath the scalp. Now I’m a chemistry major and not a doctor-to-be, but my understanding of anatomy tells me that it would be possible for a long term mesh to exist beneath the dermis and nerves and above the skull. In fact, many brain surgery patients already have such a thing.
There are also metal meshes used in skull reconstruction like this. An alternative to surgical mesh could be a biopolymer device similar to the picture below.
My first idea was: why not just load that bad boy up with 5ARs and AAs like one of those arm bar birth control implants and have it radiate finasteride goodness into the follicles in close proximity. This is idea was quickly dismissed after I realized there’s no possible way to keep any of it from going systemic in large quantities, as well as the fact that they’d need to be replaced every 5-8 years. This led me to my second idea.
We know certain chemicals interact with other chemicals in many ways. Some are rendered inert and benign, some react with each other and some are highly caustic. What if we identified a type of biocompatible complex polymer that rendered the actual chemical of finasteride inert? Then what we end up with is the ability to bathe the scalp in retarded amounts of finasteride without worrying about systemic effects.
This is when we get to bust out the fun chemistry problems and dink around with calculus. Unfortunately, thus far I have not been able to come up with a compound or structure that:
A.) Is biocompatible
B.) has a strong enough affinity for 5AR2 and/or the related enzymes as to prevent “leakage”
C.) will react with finasteride in such a way as to catalyze it into a biologically inert compound
D.) will not erode in an unacceptably short amount of time
It seems likely at this point such a polymer does not exist, or at least would take a team of researchers with a large-ish budget to develop.
But in true American fashion - what if we improvise? This brought me to my current train of thought..
What if we would modify a current topical AA to break down when it comes into contact with the mesh? Either into something completely inert, or something that we can currently deal with with existing medication? Let me put it another way.
________________________________
Chemical A is currently used orally and topically to treat male pattern baldness, but it’s side effects are undesirable. When Chemical A comes into contact with our surgical implant, it is converted into chemicals B, C and D. The side effects of these chemicals are equally undesirable. However, another medication currently used to treat ailment X works by inhibiting and destroying chemicals B, C and D.
_________________________________
At this point it is fairly well established that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is the key to stimulating hair growth. According to a few research studies (summarized by Sonthalia et. al here https://www.researchgate.net/profil...Transplantation.pdf?origin=publication_detail) certain chemicals such as valporic acid are conducive to activation of this pathway. We also know that at least one of the current treatments for male pattern baldness being studied by pharmaceutical companies combines Wnt/β-catenin activating compounds with finasteride, so we know it’s possible.
“Thus, an understanding of these pathways has clearly opened a new option of targeted treatments for Androgenetic Alopecia through the modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This includes drugs like valproic acid and analogs like lithium chloride and beryllium chloride, which have been shown to induce hair regeneration in murine model and promote human hair growth in in-vitro culture model” - Dr. Sonthalia
Okay, but, what does this have to do with surgical mesh?
Well, we know valporic acid DOES react with certain polymers and it DOES get broken down into less potent byproducts. To what extent are those byproducts harmful to the human body? Are there any current medications that can counteract them? Will combining valporic acid with finasteride cause finasteride to also act this way? These are the questions.
What all of this boils down to is a three-part treatment plan.
A.) a surgical mesh implant
B.) regular topical application of a specific topical solution
C.) a once daily pill
This all came to me this morning while I was doing homework in the library. I’d love to hear from you guys. Am I being completely stupid here? Am I daydreaming? From a chemistry standpoint, I believe it’s possible. I’d love to hear from some of the more medically minded about their opinions on the physical aspects. I’m gonna try to get my professor’s opinion on this at some point this week. I also have a thesis due in like two years and this might just be unique enough to get me a good grade.
If any chemistry bros wanna slide in my DMs and get autistic about the math and formulas, please do.
Hope everyone is having a good day.
Okay, hear me out.
I have a 3x3in surgical mesh square laid across my lower abs from a hernia I gave myself squatting at the gym. I’ve never had any issues with it and I’ve completely forgotten it’s there. It’s made of a combination of polymers, but mostly polypropylene.
They placed it by making two circular incisions about the diameter of a pea and pushing it through one like a Kleenex through a straw, then used scopes with spider claws on the ends through either incision to spread it out flat and sew it down.
This gave me a few ideas that all revolve around a custom made surgical mesh that is laid subdermally underneath the scalp. Now I’m a chemistry major and not a doctor-to-be, but my understanding of anatomy tells me that it would be possible for a long term mesh to exist beneath the dermis and nerves and above the skull. In fact, many brain surgery patients already have such a thing.
There are also metal meshes used in skull reconstruction like this. An alternative to surgical mesh could be a biopolymer device similar to the picture below.
My first idea was: why not just load that bad boy up with 5ARs and AAs like one of those arm bar birth control implants and have it radiate finasteride goodness into the follicles in close proximity. This is idea was quickly dismissed after I realized there’s no possible way to keep any of it from going systemic in large quantities, as well as the fact that they’d need to be replaced every 5-8 years. This led me to my second idea.
We know certain chemicals interact with other chemicals in many ways. Some are rendered inert and benign, some react with each other and some are highly caustic. What if we identified a type of biocompatible complex polymer that rendered the actual chemical of finasteride inert? Then what we end up with is the ability to bathe the scalp in retarded amounts of finasteride without worrying about systemic effects.
This is when we get to bust out the fun chemistry problems and dink around with calculus. Unfortunately, thus far I have not been able to come up with a compound or structure that:
A.) Is biocompatible
B.) has a strong enough affinity for 5AR2 and/or the related enzymes as to prevent “leakage”
C.) will react with finasteride in such a way as to catalyze it into a biologically inert compound
D.) will not erode in an unacceptably short amount of time
It seems likely at this point such a polymer does not exist, or at least would take a team of researchers with a large-ish budget to develop.
But in true American fashion - what if we improvise? This brought me to my current train of thought..
What if we would modify a current topical AA to break down when it comes into contact with the mesh? Either into something completely inert, or something that we can currently deal with with existing medication? Let me put it another way.
________________________________
Chemical A is currently used orally and topically to treat male pattern baldness, but it’s side effects are undesirable. When Chemical A comes into contact with our surgical implant, it is converted into chemicals B, C and D. The side effects of these chemicals are equally undesirable. However, another medication currently used to treat ailment X works by inhibiting and destroying chemicals B, C and D.
_________________________________
At this point it is fairly well established that the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is the key to stimulating hair growth. According to a few research studies (summarized by Sonthalia et. al here https://www.researchgate.net/profil...Transplantation.pdf?origin=publication_detail) certain chemicals such as valporic acid are conducive to activation of this pathway. We also know that at least one of the current treatments for male pattern baldness being studied by pharmaceutical companies combines Wnt/β-catenin activating compounds with finasteride, so we know it’s possible.
“Thus, an understanding of these pathways has clearly opened a new option of targeted treatments for Androgenetic Alopecia through the modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. This includes drugs like valproic acid and analogs like lithium chloride and beryllium chloride, which have been shown to induce hair regeneration in murine model and promote human hair growth in in-vitro culture model” - Dr. Sonthalia
Okay, but, what does this have to do with surgical mesh?
Well, we know valporic acid DOES react with certain polymers and it DOES get broken down into less potent byproducts. To what extent are those byproducts harmful to the human body? Are there any current medications that can counteract them? Will combining valporic acid with finasteride cause finasteride to also act this way? These are the questions.
What all of this boils down to is a three-part treatment plan.
A.) a surgical mesh implant
B.) regular topical application of a specific topical solution
C.) a once daily pill
This all came to me this morning while I was doing homework in the library. I’d love to hear from you guys. Am I being completely stupid here? Am I daydreaming? From a chemistry standpoint, I believe it’s possible. I’d love to hear from some of the more medically minded about their opinions on the physical aspects. I’m gonna try to get my professor’s opinion on this at some point this week. I also have a thesis due in like two years and this might just be unique enough to get me a good grade.
If any chemistry bros wanna slide in my DMs and get autistic about the math and formulas, please do.
Hope everyone is having a good day.
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