Cells in packages
Cell therapy is considered an alternative treatment option for a number of diseases caused by organ and tissue insufficiency, including myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, corneal opacity and cystic fibrosis. But in practice, these methods show modest results due to low cell viability after injection, as well as insufficient accumulation in the target organ and engraftment in damaged tissue. Researchers led by Rachel Palcesco and Adam Feinberg of Carnegie Mellon University has developed a new cell delivery method that helps cells linger where they are needed.
More than 50,000 corneal transplants are performed annually in the United States, which exceeds the number of transplants of all other organs combined. The researchers proposed using compact packaging of corneal endothelial cells as a potential alternative to corneal transplantation.
The inner surface of the cornea is lined with a single layer of endothelial cells, which are responsible for maintaining the transparency of the cornea. Endothelial cells are unable to divide to repair damage. About half of all corneal transplantations occur due to dystrophic processes accompanied by the loss of endothelial cells.
Existing methods of treatment of endothelial dystrophy have limited effectiveness, corneal transplantation often ends with transplant rejection. Existing cell therapy requires the removal of one's own endothelium by scraping or cryogenic damage to the cornea to provide a place for the delivered cells to attach.
The new method uses a shrink film to cover the microrelief islands of corneal endothelial cells located on the basement membrane-like layer of the extracellular matrix, which allows cells to maintain their intercellular connections and the structure of the cytoskeleton in fluid. In a series of studies, small packages with cells demonstrated the ability to quickly penetrate into the monolayer of the corneal endothelium in both in vitro and in vivo model systems, increasing local cell density, which could not be achieved by standard cell therapy methods.
a, b – the creation of skeletons from an extracellular matrix with an area of 200×200 microns and a thickness of 5 nm on a thermosetting polymer. c, d – cells heated to 40 ° C are sown on frames and cultured for 24 hours. e, f – after 24 hours, the samples are washed and cooled to room temperature, and then covered with shrink wrap. g – injection of bags with endothelial cells into the anterior chamber of the eye.
This is a simple but effective technology – in fact, you just need to pack the cells into small bags. It was developed to treat corneal opacity associated with endothelial dystrophy, but the authors claim that the new method of cell delivery has great potential for treating other organs. The group is currently investigating this technology for the treatment of cystic fibrosis or the restoration of heart tissue after a heart attack.
Article by R.N.Palchesko et al. In vivo engraving into the cornea endothelium using extracellular matrix shrink-wrapped cells is published in the journal Communications Materials.
Aminat Adzhieva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on Carnegie Mellon University: Small package, big potential to help cell-based therapies.