Technology

 

OUR APPROACH
Identify the clinical problem involving the loss of tissue as a result of trauma or disease.
Identify/develop animal models.
Investigate the interactions of the cells from the tissue with candidate collagen scaffolds in vitro.
Implant the scaffold into the animal model alone, seeded with differentiated or stem cells, or incorporating genes.
OUR TISSUE ENGINEERING/REGENERATIVE MEDICINE TRIAD
SCAFFOLD (MATRIX )
Porous, absorbable natural biomaterial (e.g., collagen sponge-like scaffolds, tubes and membranes)
Gelatin and chitosan nanoparticles
CELLS (Autologous)
Differentiated cells
Mesenchymal stem cells
REGULATORS
Genes for selected growth factors
Extracorporeal shock waves

TISSUES BEING INVESTIGATED
Articular Cartilage and Intervertebral Disc
Spinal Cord and Peripheral Nerve
Brain and Retina
Heart and Lung
Bone, Tendon, and Ligament

Following are 3 selected achievements.

1. Musculoskeletal connective tissue cells and mesenchymal stem cells can express the gene for a-smooth muscle actin; this muscle actin enables the cells to contract

(M Spector, Wound Repair Regen. 9:11;2001)

This discovery was made as cell interactions with collagen-GAG scaffolds were being investigated in vitro: articular chondrocyte, osteoblast, meniscus fibroblast and fibrochondrocyte, intervertebral disc fibroblast and fibrochondrocyte, ligament fibroblast, tendon fibroblast, and synovial cell.

2. Plasmid DNA can be incorporated into collagen-GAG scaffolds for prolonged non-viral gene transfer. The cross-link method and pH at which the plasmid is added affect the level of the prolonged (e.g., 28-day) transfection.

(R Samuel, et al., Human Gene Therapy 13:791;2002)

 

 

 

3. Improvements in cartilage repair procedures using a type II collagen-GAG scaffold; canine model.

(CR Lee, J. Orthop. Res. 21:272;2003; HA Breinan, J. Orthop. Res. 18:781;2000)

 

 

 

 

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