Combining stem cells with silicon nanowires has shown promise as a step toward new treatments for heart damage, and the technology is now ready for the next challenge, said a Clemson University bioengineering professor.
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In a new project funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers plan to genetically engineer stem cells so that they are not rejected by the body as foreign bodies. They will test whether the genetic engineering affects the function of the stem cells and the nanowires.
The research aims to find new treatments for heart disease, which is the number one cause of death worldwide. The researchers’ ultimate goal is to develop an “off-the-shelf” product that can be used to treat patients efficiently and effectively.
Ying Mei, a professor of bioengineering at Clemson University, served as principal investigator on previous studies of the proposed treatment and the new project.
“Heart tissue cannot repair itself like, for example, a cut in the skin, so finding a repair therapy is important,” he said. “Our approach using stem cells and silicon nanowires shows great promise for treating cardiac injury and we hope to answer important questions that will lead to the clinical translation of this technology.”
The research focused on human pluripotent stem cells, which can differentiate into any type of cell in the body, including cardiomyocytes. That ability makes them an attractive option for replacing damaged or dead heart muscle, as well as holding promise for repairing other parts of the body, such as the intestine, pancreas, liver, retina, brain and lungs.
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Using human pluripotent stem cells in the heart comes with unique challenges, and researchers led by May launched a project to address these challenges in 2017 and reported their findings in the journal Science Advances in 2023.
The team combined human pluripotent stem cells with silicon nanowires that aggregate into spherical shapes, and the researchers discovered that the microscopic silicon nanowires are key to improving the electrical connectivity and overall function of lab-grown tissues.
The article in Science Advances was titled, “Nanowire-assisted human cardiac organoid transplantation enables highly efficient and effective recovery of infarcted hearts.”
This work laid the groundwork for testing genetic modifications of stem cells in a new project. The National Institutes of Health has been a key partner, funding $1.5 million for the study that began in 2017 and $2.6 million for the new project.
Senior faculty collaborating on the new project include William Bridges of Clemson University, Xiaojun Liang of Pennsylvania State University, and Christine DeLeon Pennell, Leonardo Ferreira and Jean Ruddy of the Medical University of South Carolina.
The previous research and new projects are being conducted in Charleston as part of the Clemson-MUSC Bioengineering Program, an effort that embeds Clemson University faculty and students on the MUSC campus.
“Our research is a team approach, with every member critical to success,” May said. “The idea for this study grew out of conversations with collaborators at MUSC and Penn State, and we look forward to deepening our partnership on this new project.”
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