Magnetized stem cells against cancer
TPU Laboratory scientists develop a way to control cells using a magnet
Scientists of the laboratory of new dosage forms of Tomsk Polytechnic University are working on the creation of a technology that allows the management of mesenchymal stem cells of the patient's body. The technology will make it possible to treat oncological diseases more effectively. To fight cancer cells, scientists suggest using the patient's own cells. The native cell of the body will not be rejected by its immune system and will be able to deliver the medicine directly to the focus of the disease.
The polytechnics are working on the development of magnetically controlled stem cells together with colleagues from St. Petersburg State Medical University named after I.P. Pavlov and Queen Mary University of London (Queen Mary University of London).
More information about the scientists' research can be found in a scientific article published in the journal Advanced Healthcare Materials (IF 5, 76): Lepik et al., Mesenchymal Stem Cell Magnetization: Magnetic Multilayer Microcapsule Uptake, Toxicity, Impact on Functional Properties, and Perspectives for Magnetic Delivery.
The principle of the new technology is that magnetically controlled microcapsules with a drug loaded into them are inserted into the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of the patient's body, the size of which is approximately 10 microns. With the help of a magnet, the stem cell is directed to a cancerous tumor; the microcontainer located inside it is destroyed and releases the drug. Thus, the drug hits exactly the target, hitting the cancer cells of the body and without causing harm to healthy ones.
"Mesenchymal stem cells have the property of migrating to the tumor area. They are also capable of directed differentiation in vivo (ed. – experiments "in vitro") and in vitro (ed. – experiments "inside a living organism") into cells of bone, fat, cartilage, muscle or connective tissue. Therefore, MSCs attract the attention of researchers and practitioners from the point of view of their possible use for substitution or restorative therapy of diseases, genetic or cellular engineering," says one of the authors of the scientific article Alexander Timin, a junior researcher at the laboratory of New dosage forms of the RASA Center at TPU.
In the published article, scientists have shown for the first time the possibility of stem cells to capture magnetic microcapsules to create magnetically controlled cell cultures.
Images obtained from a confocal microscope demonstrating the successful capture of magnetic microcapsules by mesenchymal cells.
"It is interesting to note that cells show a high ability to internalize (capture) microcapsules without significantly affecting microcapsules on their toxicity, compared with other cell lines described in the scientific literature. As a result of the absorption of magnetic capsules by cells, we create a new cellular platform that reacts to an external magnetic field, which allows manipulating cell migration. The created approach to the magnetization of MSCs allows for magnetic sorting (ed. – sorting) of cells and to form a cellular spheroid of tens of thousands of MSCs. The results of this work can be used in the future to create cell-modified platforms of a new generation for effective targeted delivery by ex vivo methods," the authors of the scientific article note.
Ex vivo (from lat. – "from life"), means "what happens outside the body", that is, conducting experiments in living tissue transferred from the body to an artificial external environment.
It should be added that in the laboratory of new dosage forms of the Polytechnic, together with Russian and foreign medical scientists, they are developing technologies for controlled delivery of medicines into the patient's body. Scientists are creating "remotely controlled" hybrid microcontainers that can be delivered to different places and, in particular, to the cells of our body.
The formation of the laboratory of new dosage forms of the RASA Center on the basis of TPU began in January of this year. It is headed by representatives of the International Association of Russian-Speaking Scientists (RASA). The head of the laboratory is Gleb Sukhorukov, Head of the Department of Biopolymer and Bioorganic Surfaces of the School of Engineering and Materials Science at Queen Mary University of London (Great Britain), President of the Association of Russian–speaking Scientists in Europe.
Reference:
Mesenchymal stem cells are a population of cells that differ morphologically and in their action potential. According to the latest data from the USA, the smallest cells up to 10 microns in size have the greatest potential. Their capabilities are comparable to the potential of embryonic stem cells, and the use has all the advantages of MSCs. These cells are now undergoing a stage of thorough scientific research in the world's leading laboratories, the most advanced research in this field in the United States. Obtaining and cultivating them is associated with great difficulties compared to larger cells, but perhaps they are the original link that contains the secret of youth, health and longevity.
It should be noted that the scientific team of the laboratory of new dosage forms of the RASA Center on the basis of TPU this year published 10 scientific articles in highly rated journals with a high impact factor. The publications are devoted to technologies for creating effective methods of delivery of various medicinal compounds using the encapsulation method.
The International Association of Russian-speaking AcademicScience Association (RASA) is a non–governmental, non–profit organization founded in 2008. Works in Asia, Europe and the USA. The main goal is to preserve, strengthen and develop a unified intellectual and cultural space of the Russian–speaking scientific community.
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13.01.2017