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Development of nanocarpets for enhanced cellular transplantation

Development of nanocarpets for enhanced cellular transplantation

-Toward the realization of retinal cell delivery with minimally invasive approach and improved engraftment-

Summary

A research group headed by Research Associate Toshinori Fujie (Currently an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University) and Junior Principal Investigator Ali Khademhosseini of the Advanced Institute for Materials Research (AIMR) at Tohoku University in cooperation with a research group headed by Professor Toshiaki Abe of the Graduate School of Medicine at Tohoku University and Associate Professor Hirokazu Kaji of the Graduate School of Engineering at Tohoku University developed cellular scaffolds (nanocarpets), that can efficiently deliver a large amount of cells to a narrow disease site such as the back of the eye: (e.g., the retina ).
Since the nanocarpet is very thin and flexible with a thickness of 170 nm (1 nanometer is a millionth of millimeter), it is possible to house the nanocarpet within a syringe needle and deliver the transplanted cells into a subretinal space like a "flying carpet" in Arabian Knights. The nanocarpet will facilitate the transplantation process in minimally invasive way without any large incision in the eye while retaining the cell viability, which holds great promise toward the development of enhanced cellular transplantation.

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