The Technology
Olfactory bulb (OB)-derived cells include fibroblasts, astrocytes, and olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs). OECs are a distinctive type of glia that secrete neurotrophic factors and form myelin sheaths around axons projecting from the olfactory mucosa into the OB of the central nervous system. Their unique properties make them candidates for cell therapy of spinal cord injury (SCI). Current SCI cellular repair techniques suffer from massive cell loss post implantation. The new invention designed to grow the OEC on 3D scaffolds. The 3D scaffold setting enhanced neurotrophic factors expression, which are suggested to then modulate neuronal survival and differentiation. In addition, OB-derived cells grown on 3D scaffolds supported angiogenic behavior, including formation of endothelial cell-based vessel-like networks. Therefore, such multicellular complexed tissue is expected to better recover post transplantation.
Advantages
- Enable to introduce the OECs into a spinal cord injury site, not as individual floating cells but as a multi cellular complexed tissue construct
- Enable better integration of the transplanted cells in the host’s spinal cord tissue, hence better recovery from the spinal cord injury
Applications and Opportunities
- In-vitro model for basic science
- A device suitable for transplantation into a spinal cord injury site
- Multi-cellular complexed tissue, suitable for transplantation
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