While there is much research around the world on engineering human tissues, most of the significant results to date have been on relatively simple tissues. However, many structures and organs in the body comprise a mixture of cell types or tissues that are functionalized to achieve a desired effect. Often in a three-dimensional construct, a major problem is in getting nutrients and oxygen to cells and removing waste products and gases.

Researchers in Robert Langer’s lab at MIT have, however, recently been able to induce cells to form small tube-like structures that could in future form the basis of engineered blood vessels.

The team created nanoscale grooves on a silicone elastomer substrate using that encouraged endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to align themselves along the grooves in so-called band structures. Once the band structures formed the researchers induced them to form tubes using a gel. Rather than forming random structures, the nanoscale grooves allowed the cells to form capillary-like tubules in an aligned arrangement.

According to the lab’s director, Robert Langer, the approach could provide a novel approach to the engineering of tissues in the human body.

For more information see the paper in Advanced Materials.

Posted: December 18th, 2007 under Nanomedicine.
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Collaborative research between researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Rice University has shown that liver cancers in rabbits injected with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) can be destroyed when targeted with radiofrequency waves. Radiofrequency targeting of the tumours for two minutes resulted in heating of the CNTs within the cancer cells causing their destruction. Cells not treated by either CNTs or radiofrequency energy were not affected. No side effects were noted but some leakage of the CNTs from the tissues did result in damage to tissues within 2 to 5 mm of the tumours.

The work was started by Nobel Laureate Richard Smalley at Rice  several months before his death in October 2005 and has been continued by a team led by Steven Curley of the M.D. Anderson Center. Dr Curley notes that one advantage is that radiofrequency waves pass harmlessly through the body and will only deliver heat where the CNTs or other suitable nanoparticles are targeted. Abstract from the journal Cancer.

Posted: December 4th, 2007 under Nanomedicine.
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