Giant Cartilage Weaving Stem Cell Machine

If you're into the whole bio-engineering scene or are planning to work in labs which create polymers for human regenerative use, this machine might interest you. Check out this cool photo of a giant stem cell scaffold weaving loom.


Our collaborators in the National University of Singapore have something like this in Prof. Seeram Ramakrishna's lab but I haven't had the privilege of seeing at work. Right now, they use it to spin the polymers made of gelatin and other organic substances but I don't think its for commercial application just yet.

Encouraging Research Careers in Stem Cells

It's always nice to read about a young person's start in life, filled with passion and career goals, especially in the area of stem cell research and application (my favorite topic!).

Featured in the local paper the Star recently, was 28 year-old Tan Guak Kim from Kota Tinggi, Johor, who recently qualified with a Masters of Medical Science from University Malaya. She has proudly announced winning a full PhD scholarship from the Australian government to pursue her studies on cartilage regeneration in the University of Queensland.

Her work will be centered on (guess what!) scaffolding and biomaterial influence on stem cell differentiation to form cartilage cells. She says that she would like to perhaps start an institute in future which would teach others about stem cell work and provide arthritic applications.

Guak Kim, you're always welcome to give us a call when you're ready with an application. Or maybe just even when you're back in Malaysia for a vacation.


Well done also to all the other winners of the Endeavour award!


I have friends who studied with me in the UK and pursued their PhD programmes there. Scientific pursuit is a lot about having the community of friendly researchers who support each other and a strong funding program as research equipments and reagent are expensive. My friends have gone on to receive support, encouragement and generous funding from the UK governments to pursue their areas of interest, and I suspect sadly, won't be coming home anytime soon.

The Importance of Intricate Scaffolds for Adult Stem Cell Culture and Expansion

A while ago, StemLife recognized the importance of 3-D scaffolding for cellular expansion and this led to the research project collaboration with Singapore National University's Department of Engineering, specifically the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Department. Advances in nano-engineering technology and increased understanding of the cell's structural needs are evolving the way that scientists from different specialties work together towards a common goal of potentially reconstructing parts of the body. I'll keep you updated on our work as we go along.

It was therefore exciting to read this latest release from MIT regarding their research in 3-D scaffolds for the growth of stem cells. Researchers Zhang Shu guang and Fabrizio Gelain from Milan have created a scaffold made of protein nanofibers (made of amino acid fragments) which has successfully provided the growth bed for adult stem cells obtained from mice.

A 3-D system would not only better mimic the body's natural environment for the cells and the researchers expect that this aspect would assist in obtaining an accurate picture of how cells grow and behave in the body, but also allow the cells which have engrafted onto the scaffold to be transplanted directly into the body.

More interestingly, scaffolds will allow scientists to try seeding different cell types (such as teeth, bone, skin and other important excreting organs such as liver and pancreas cells) and maybe enable these cells to form the important supporting cell types which enable the organ to function biochemically as well as structurally.


MORE INFO:

If you'd like to know a bit more about Prof. Zhang, click here for his CV and contact details.

If you'd like to know more about the nanofiber scaffolds by Prof. Zhang's group, you can view the MIT presentation here. It would be better to listen to him in a presentation and some of the pictures in the slides are missing but you'll get the general idea.


If you're interested in seeing your own body's scaffolding ability, have a close look at your nails with its multiple layers and if you happen to take some of the skin off your lips- you'll also be able to see the intricate layers of protein which give the sheets its tensile strength and patterns. :)