stem cells tagged posts

Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have successfully turned back the biological hands of time, coaxing adult human cells in the laboratory to revert to a primitive state, and unlocking their potential to replace and repair damage to blood vessels in the retina caused by diabetes. The findings from this experimental study, they say, advance regenerative medicine techniques aimed at reversing the course of diabetic retinopathy and other blinding eye diseases.

“Our study results bring us a step closer to using stem cells more widely in regenerative medicine, without the historical problems...

This image shows vascularized pancreatic islets (areas in green) bioengineered by researchers and transplanted into a mouse. The bioengineered islets — which have a network of blood vessels (shown in red) and secrete hormones like insulin — are shown seven days after transplant. Scientists reporting research data in Cell Reports say their goal is to one day translate the bioengineering process used to generate and transplant mouse pancreatic islets to human patients with diabetes. Credit: Cincinnati Children’s

Self-condensation process for cells generates vascularized organ tissues for transplant...

Spare parts from small parts: Novel Scaffolds to grow Muscle

Australian biomedical engineers have successfully produced a 3D material that mimics nature to transform cells into muscle. The researchers have for the first time incorporated the natural processes of embryonic development to build a material that can more naturally communicate with stem cells for effective tissue repair. The breakthrough offers hope to people suffering from injuries where their muscles cannot repair themselves due to trauma or disease, and our rapidly aging population.

Led by Dr Richard Williams from RMIT University, in Melbourne Australia, the researchers have combined lab-made peptides with natural proteins and polymers to create a 3D “hydrogel scaffold...

This is a Leopard gecko. Credit: Vickaryous Lab

Discovery of which cells are behind the gecko’s ability to re-grow its tail has implications for spinal cord treatment in humans. A U of G researcher is the first to discover the type of stem cell that is behind the gecko’s ability to re-grow its tail, a finding that has implications for spinal cord treatment in humans. Many lizards can detach a portion of their tail to avoid a predator and then regenerate a new one. Unlike mammals, the lizard tail includes a spinal cord.

Prof. Matthew Vickaryous found that the spinal cord of the tail contained a large number of stem cells and proteins known to support stem cell growth...