Here is another related article that I came across today:
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<b>Same scaffold, different cells</b>
BIOMATERIALS
Researchers at the US National Institutes of
Health and Thomas Jefferson University have
generated adipose, cartilage, and bone cells
in vitro on a polymer nanofiber scaffold
seeded with stem cells [Li et al.,
Biomaterials (2005) 26 (25), 5158].
Cells grown on a biodegradable scaffold can
be used to help repair damaged tissues in
the body. Stem cells could prove useful
because they can differentiate into a variety
of specialized cell types. Ideally, a single
biomaterial scaffold should support multiple
cell types, so mimicking natural tissues.
The team immersed human mesenchymal stem
cells in an electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone),
or PCL, scaffold and induced the cells to
differentiate into different cell lineages. âThe
electrospun nanofiberous scaffold⦠can be
considered as a candidate biomaterial
scaffold for the fabrication of a single-unitbased,
multicomponent tissue construct,â
says Wan-Ju Li.
The scaffold is effective because its 700 nm
diameter fibers imitate the collagen fibrils
that support cells in the body. The fine fibers
also provide a desirable degradation rate.
âUnlike many other biomaterials that have
been tested as scaffolds, PCL dissolves
slowly,â explains lead author Rocky S. Tuan.
âSome materials, like poly-D,L-lacic-co-glycolic
acid, will disappear after only a few days.â
âWe have begun testing [the tissueengineered
constructs] in vivo and have had
preliminary success,â he adds. <b>âThe goal is
to create cartilage, but that is still about
five years down the road.â</b> Tissue patches
like these could alleviate pain, while more
applications will be seen in the coming years,
he believes.
Patrick Cain
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Source: Materials Today - May 2005 page 13
They are hoping to create cartilage too (see highlighted text above).
regards, blake
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE<!--quotec-->
<b>Same scaffold, different cells</b>
BIOMATERIALS
Researchers at the US National Institutes of
Health and Thomas Jefferson University have
generated adipose, cartilage, and bone cells
in vitro on a polymer nanofiber scaffold
seeded with stem cells [Li et al.,
Biomaterials (2005) 26 (25), 5158].
Cells grown on a biodegradable scaffold can
be used to help repair damaged tissues in
the body. Stem cells could prove useful
because they can differentiate into a variety
of specialized cell types. Ideally, a single
biomaterial scaffold should support multiple
cell types, so mimicking natural tissues.
The team immersed human mesenchymal stem
cells in an electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone),
or PCL, scaffold and induced the cells to
differentiate into different cell lineages. âThe
electrospun nanofiberous scaffold⦠can be
considered as a candidate biomaterial
scaffold for the fabrication of a single-unitbased,
multicomponent tissue construct,â
says Wan-Ju Li.
The scaffold is effective because its 700 nm
diameter fibers imitate the collagen fibrils
that support cells in the body. The fine fibers
also provide a desirable degradation rate.
âUnlike many other biomaterials that have
been tested as scaffolds, PCL dissolves
slowly,â explains lead author Rocky S. Tuan.
âSome materials, like poly-D,L-lacic-co-glycolic
acid, will disappear after only a few days.â
âWe have begun testing [the tissueengineered
constructs] in vivo and have had
preliminary success,â he adds. <b>âThe goal is
to create cartilage, but that is still about
five years down the road.â</b> Tissue patches
like these could alleviate pain, while more
applications will be seen in the coming years,
he believes.
Patrick Cain
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Source: Materials Today - May 2005 page 13
They are hoping to create cartilage too (see highlighted text above).
regards, blake