Summary: Scientists at the University of Southampton have recently discovered a new way of creating artificial bone cells. The process is fairly simple. The researchers have managed to cultivate human embryonic stem cells onto biomedical polycarbonate plastic. This was possible due to the nanotopographical patterns on the biomedical plastic. (see links for more information on this)
Professor Richard Oreffo, who led the researching team, says that: “To generate bone cells for regenerative medicine and further medical research remains a significant challenge. However we have found that by harnessing surface technologies that allow the generation and ultimately scale up of human embryonic stem cells to skeletal cells, we can aid the tissue engineering process.” With that being said it is easy to see that this discovery could lead to brand new paths of bone repair therapies and stem cell research.
Creation and possible uses for stem cells.
NOS Themes:
Science builds upon previous experiments and data. (This latest discovery expands on the close collaborative work previously undertaken by the University of Southampton)
Science is everchanging. ( This new method of manipulating stem cells into bone cells has opened up brand new paths of research)
Links:
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2013/02/11/stem_cell_breakthrough_could_lead_to_new_bone_repair_therapies_on_nanoscale_surfaces.html
Nanotopographical explanation sites:
short version: http://tej.sagepub.com/content/1/1/120623.abstract
long version: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2965469/ (for the seriously smart kids...jk)
Thomas Hu
Hr.2
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