Man Receives World's First Synthetic Windpipe

A 36-year-old man returned home this week after receiving the world's first "synthetic" trachea in an operation at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. Made of a bendy polymeric nanocomposite material, the trachea could be the first of many "off-the-shelf" organs for transplant.

Performed by Paolo Macchiarini of the Karolinska Institute, the surgery on 9 June built on earlier pioneering procedures in which Macchiarini transplanted into a female patient a section of windpipe taken from a dead donor, stripped chemically of the donor's cells and recoated beforehand with the patient's own cells.

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Functioning Small Intestine Created in Lab

Researchers at The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital in Los Angeles have engineered a small intestine in mice that replicates the intestinal structures of natural intestine. Dr. Grikscheit who led the study is concerned with finding solutions for newborns who are born prematurely. These infants are at increased risk for a gastrointestinal disease called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which occurs when the intestine is injured and often removal of the organ is the only option.

Working in the laboratory, the research team took samples of intestinal tissue from mice. This tissue was comprised of the layers of the various cells that make up the intestine — including muscle cells and the cells that line the inside, known as epithelial cells. The investigators then transplanted that mixture of cells within the abdomen on biodegradable polymers or "scaffolding."

New engineered small intestines then grew and had all of the cell types found in native intestine. Because the transplanted cells had carried a green label, the scientists could identify which cells had been provided — and all of the major components of the tissue-engineered intestine derived from the implanted cells. Critically, the new organs contained the most essential components of the originals.

"What is novel about this research is that this tissue-engineered intestine contains every important cell type needed for functional intestine. For children with intestinal failure, we are always looking for long-term, durable solutions that will not require the administration of toxic drugs to ensure engraftment. This tissue-engineered intestine, which has all of the critical components of the mature intestine, represents a truly exciting albeit preliminary step in the right direction," said Henri Ford, MD, Vice President and Surgeon-in-Chief at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

"We demonstrated that we are providing all of the important cells—the muscle, nerve, epithelium, and some of the blood vessels," noted Frédéric Sala, PhD, lead author. "All of these are critical to proper functioning of the tissue, and now we know their origins." Next up are additional tissue-growing experiments—each one of which may bring that much closer the prospects of clinical testing and a solution for babies in need.

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Artificial Rat Lung Grown

A very quick video that shows a functioning artificial rat lung. The video was posted just a week ago. Scientists from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, led by Harald C. Ott, have successfully grown a rat lung in the lab.

One of the top searches on this site is 'how to increase lung capacity' probably by ex smokers researching how to reverse the damage. (Or extreme athletes!!)

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I won't add this to the directory because its not in human trials, but thought I'd post it seeing as its the first time its been accomplished. Other artificial lungs in the directory can be viewed here -> biotech-directory/lungs/

Scientists Grow Intestine Using Stem Cells

For the first time, scientists have created functioning human intestinal tissue in the lab from pluripotent stem cells. The scientists from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in the U.S. say their findings will open the door to unprecedented studies of human intestinal development, function and diseases. 

Other research areas opened up include creating intestinal tissue for transplantation and investigating drugs than can be better absorbed by the body, since the intestine absorbs most drugs taken orally.

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First Adult Stem Cell Human Trial For Spinal Cord Injury Underway

RNL Bio located in Korea has already launched commercial stem cell therapy for pets like dogs and cats with spinal cord injury since 2008. Now they have announced they are beginning trials of the same treatment on humans. On April 30th the Korean FDA approved its human clinical study to treat patients with spinal cord injury using their product ‘RNL-Astrostem’ that is based on fat derived adult stem cells.

In early 2009 the U.S. FDA permitted Geron Corp to conduct a clinical trial using embryonic stem cells to treat patients with spinal cord injuries. However the RNL Bio method may prove less controversial due to using adult stem cells.

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Worlds First Full Face Transplant

A hospital in Spain has carried out the world's first full face transplant. The Barcelona facility said it took a 30-member medical team 24 hours to perform the procedure on the man who had been in an accident five years ago. Apparently he was a farmer who accidentally shot himself and wished to remain anonymous.

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Printing Human Tissue - Organovo

Organovo has developed a Bio-Printer. It works by taking cells from a donor and growing them in a lab. The cells are then printed in layers to create any desired 3D shape. Once printed, the cells are then nourished and nature does the rest. By taking cells from a patient themselves, it eliminates rejection, and the need for anti-rejection drugs. So far the Organovo Bio-Printer can make blood vessels in around an hour. Eventually scientists are hoping they'll be able to print entire organs, making organ waiting lists a thing of the past.

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The Res-Q System for Adult Stem Cell Therapy

Celling Technologies has now launched its latest method for the isolation of adult stem cells. The Res-Q device was developed by ThermoGenesis Corporation to provide an easy to use, point-of-care system to compliment their MXP system currently being marketed in the United States and several international markets.

The Res-Q device is the second point-of-care cell processing system by Celling that utilizes a functionally closed system to eliminate sterility issues while providing consistent, reliable adult stem cell concentrations within minutes.

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AxoGen launches AxoGuard Nerve Protector and Nerve Connector

AxoGen, Inc. has announced its U.S. market launch of AxoGuard™ Nerve Protectorand AxoGuard™ Nerve Connector for the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries. With licensed technologies from the University of Florida, the University of Texas, and Emory University, researchers at AxoGen have developed an innovative technology platform making it possible to process allograft nerves while preserving the relevant characteristics of the three dimensional scaffold of the nerve tissue.

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New Laser Seals Wounds and Replaces Stitches

In just a few years time people around the world may be getting open wounds sealed by laser rather than by stitches. Scientists at Tel Aviv University have discovered that by carefully controlling the heat of a laser, they can seal a wound shut - rather than cutting flesh open! Sealing skin closed with the laser is less likely to tear and is more watertight than traditional stitches. So far, experiments on patients in operating rooms have been successful and their wounds have healed faster and with less scarring.

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