Stem Cells Embedded In Sutures Help Healing

July 26th, 2009

Students of the Johns Hopkins biomedical engineering program have been working on something interesting. They have demonstrated a practical way to embed a patient’s own adult stem cells in the surgical thread that doctors use to repair serious orthopedic injuries such as ruptured tendons. They believe that the procedure, which doesn’t change the surgical procedure in function will help in reducing the probability of re-injury.

The project team of 10 undergraduates sponsored by Bioactive Surgical Inc., a Maryland medical technology company; won first place in the recent Design Day 2009 competition conducted by the university’s Department of Biomedical Engineering. In collaboration with orthopedic physicians, the students have begun testing the stem cell–bearing sutures in an animal model, paving the way for possible human trials within about five years.

the students believe that the sutures will show promising results in debilitating tendon, ligament and muscle injuries, often sports-related, that affect thousands of young and middle-aged adults annually.

“Using sutures that carry stems cells to the injury site would not change the way surgeons repair the injury,” said Matt Rubashkin, the student team leader, “but we believe the stem cells will significantly speed up and improve the healing process. And because the stem cells will come from the patient, there should be no rejection problems.”

All hail stem cells. Straight from the actual patient receiving them no less. Who knows where these things can go one day. Maybe even for things as little as visiting a Plano Cosmetic Dentist. You never know.