Stem Cell Powder Re-grows Limbs

by Katie Gatto

The McGowan Institute of Regenerative Medicine at The University of Pittsburgh and the Brook Army Medical Center are trying to make at least one of the tales of science fiction a reality for modern soldiers who have lost a part of their body in service to their country.

The experimental procedure involves a powder, make from the adult stem cells found in pigs bladders, to try and regenerate lost limbs. The powder is called an extra cellular matrix, a tool that is used by surgeons to aid in healing. The hope is that the powder can be used to attract other types of cells from the effected area of the body and regenerate a lost limb or digit in another area of the body.

This idea is based on the discovery that stem cells will grow to be the type of tissue that they are placed next to. Stem cell research first began in 1998 at the University of Wisconsin, making this the 10^th year of stem cell research.

From nih.gov

In the first test case, the trial was successful. A man named Lee Spievack, who has lost part of his finger in a model plane propeller was able to grow back not only the skin, but also the blood vessels and nail in just four weeks. You can view a video about the amazing limb re-growth story here.

Via CNN

Our Guest Blogger, Kate Gatto, is a technology fiend with a Masters in Information Systems and previous hospital experience working in a small community hospital and a regional trauma center.

Katie Gatto
Computers and Technology Blogger
InventorSpot.com

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Comments

Correction

Submitted on June 22nd, 2008 by Anonymous

Stem cell research began long before 1998. That was when Dr. James Thompson first isolated human embryonic stem cells. (No. '07 he was the first to create induced pluripotent stem cells from human skin in the United States. Because these cells act like embryonic in their ability to contribute to all body cells he said, ""A decade from now, this [hES controversy] will be just a funny historical footnote ... Isn't it great to start a field and then to end it?" )

Stem cell research was done being done back in the 1950s - with the term coined in biology text books of the 1960s (perhaps before). Much of the early work on 'embryonic' (e.g. pluripotent) was done using testicular carcinomas.

Drs. Norman and Milton Ende are the pioneers of stem cell treatments, doing much of the early work oncord blood transplatation, starting in the 1960s. They recognized stem cells from cord blood, placenta, and other extraembryonic tissues as between embryonic/adult and coined them as 'berashis'.

The actual islolation of stem cells happened much later (with many types of 'adult' stem cells still difficult to have pure samples for labs).

Embryonic stem cells were isolated and grown by two doctors almost simultaneously - in 1981. Dr. Gail Martin did it in the US. I believe she coined the phrase 'embryonic stem cells'. Dr. Martan Evans (Now 'Sir' Martin Evans, and Nobel Laureate) did it in UK using a different technique. Dr. Martin's method is the preferred one.

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That said, the regenerative 'magic dust' is very cool. My sister is in the hospital right now after receiving a biomatrix mesh of the material to bind her abdominal muscles after an emergency surgery left them at her sides instead of joined in the middle. The doctor expects it to fill with fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells which will eventually differentiate into new muscle tissue.

You can watch the CBS News video on Mr. Spievack's experience here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/22/sunday/main3960219.shtml

(The link should include access to their sister story about regrowing your organs using your own stem cells - human patients are now waiting only 8 weeks to replace their bladders ... most amazing, they use an ink jet printer to do it!)