Precise delivery of stem cells: magnetic nanoparticles and injection into a vein

Perhaps in the near future, doctors will be able to put a "patch" on the site of a bone fracture or restore diseased joints with intravenous injection.

A non-traumatic method of stem cell delivery was developed by Alicia El Haj and John Dobson, professors at the British University of Keele (Keele University). The aim of the study is to develop a new technology for the treatment of injuries and arthritis.

Instead of intra-articular injection or injection of a suspension of stem cells at the site of a bone fracture, you can do with a conventional injection into a vein. However, previously the surface of mesenchymal stem cells obtained from bone marrow must be covered with the thinnest layer of magnetic nanoparticles. After that, the cells can be moved to the desired location using external magnetic fields.

Tests of the new method on mice were successful. Now the researchers plan to repeat the experiment on larger animals and believe that it will be possible to switch to clinical studies on humans no later than in five years, especially since such magnetic particles are allowed to be used – they are used, in particular, as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging.

The patent for the new technology belongs to Magnecell, a company specializing in the development of methods for the treatment of joint injuries using stem cells and the use of magnetic nanoparticles in various fields of biomedicine (in the figure – a nanoparticle attached directly to a protein that performs the functions of an ion channel, or to the cell membrane next to it, opens the passage to ions from the intercellular space cells).

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru according to the BBC: Bone-repairing stem cell jab hope

13.04.2009