UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA, MANITOBA, CANADA AND NANFANG HOSPITAL OF SOUTHERN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, GUANGDONG PROVINCE, CHINA. A new way in treating hair loss with the use of stem cells was developed by a team of scientists from Canada and China. This is a more practical method in treating alopecia or hair loss, a condition that is caused by diseases, medicine and aging.
The team was led by Malcolm Xing from the University of Manitoba and Zhi-Qi Hu from the Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University. They designed a “nutritious nano-clothing” that creates a microenvironment protection for dermal papilla cells. Also, it provides the cells with a source of fibroblast growth factor-2, an essential cytokine culture nutrient that enhances hair-inductive properties and growth. This method encloses the cells within a cytokine-containing layer that bypasses the hardships in the regeneration of new hair follicles on bald skin/scalp. So, they used a layer-by-layer self-assembly deposition that envelopes the cells within an inner layer of gelatin, followed by the fibroblast growth factor-2 loaded on the middle layer of alginate and, finally, a gelatin coating on its outer layer.
Tests were done on nude mice and the implanted enclosed cells produced abundant hair growth. The organization of the hair follicles displayed mature characteristics. According to Xing, the most challenging part of this research was on how to optimize the concentrations of the coated polymers. In addition to that, the manufacturing conditions that will make the cells healthy is a difficulty as well.
Current drug treatments and hair transplants for alopecia are expensive. Also, it is a major challenge to regenerate new hair follicles after these treatments. The use of stem cells in treating hair loss is a better option. It is more affordable and can regenerate new hair follicles. This innovation has great potential when it comes to stem cell based regenerative medicine.
| Invention | Using Stem Cells in Re-Seeding Hairlines |
|---|---|
| Organization | University of Manitoba and Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University |
| Researcher | Professor Malcolm Xing & Team |
| Field(s) | Nanotechnology, Stem Cell, Regenerative Medicine, Alopecia, Stem-Cell Based Therapies |
| Further Information | http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2015/12/stem-cells-baldness-cure |
Image courtesy of pixabay.com
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