Injectable Cell Therapy for Degenerative Disc Disease

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Injectable Cell Therapy for Degenerative Disc
Disease

• Richard Melpignano

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Degenerative Disc Disease

• The natural degeneration of the Intervertebral
  Discs (IVD) and nucleus pulposus (NP), which is
  the spinal cords jelly-like shock absorber
• Most commonly affects lumbar cervical regions
  in older patients
• Can lead to Osteoarthritis (the breakdown of
  protective cartilage), herniated discs, and
  spinal stenosis

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Treatment

• Injection of NP cells inside a liquid suspension
  directly into IVD
• Purpose is to promote tissue regeneration
• Current liquid delivery medium is ineffective
  can only hold cells in place for 3-4 days

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Advancements

• In July 2013, Researchers from Duke University
  created a new biomaterial suspension for NP
  injection
• Made up of the chemically modified protein
  laminin-111 and two polyethylene glycol hydrogels
• Injected as a liquid and quickly forms into a
  gel
• Gel mimics laminin (protein native to NP). This
  ensures persistence and biosynthesis of the
  injected NP cells

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Procedure

• All three substances are injected directly into
  affected IVD
• Takes about a minute to inject, 5 minutes to
  begin to solidify, and 20 minutes to completely
  set

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Results

• Luciferase biomarkers used to track migration of
  injected cells
• Two weeks after injection, significantly more
  cells remained in place when delivered within the
  biomaterial suspension in comparison to the
  traditional liquid suspension

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Future

• Still much work to be done not yet practical for
  use on humans
• Injection sites are still not large enough to
  deliver NP cells to larger IVD sites that are
  present in humans (in comparison to mice used in
  tests)
• Additional studies that evaluate disc height or
  matrix hydration following cell delivery would
  further optimize this treatment

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Works Cited

• Aubrey T. Francisco, Robert J. Mancino, Robby D.
  Bowles, Jonathan M. Brunger, David M. Tainter,
  Yi-Te Chen, William J. Richardson, Farshid
  Guilak, Lori A. Setton, Injectable
  laminin-functionalized hydrogel for nucleus
  pulposus regeneration, Biomaterials, Volume 34,
  Issue 30, October 2013, Pages 7381-7388, ISSN
  0142-9612, http//dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterial
  s.2013.06.038.
• "Cell Therapies May Stop or Reverse Pain and
  Disability of Degenerative Disc Disease." Cell
  Therapies May Stop or Reverse Pain and Disability
  of Degenerative Disc Disease. N.p., n.d. Web. 17
  Nov. 2013. lthttp//www.news-medical.net/news/20130
  717/Cell-therapies-may-stop-or-reverse-pain-and-di
  sability-of-degenerative-disc-disease.aspxgt
• "Degenerative Disc Disease-Topic Overview."
  WebMD. WebMD, 07 Jan. 0000. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.
  lthttp//www.webmd.com/back-pain/tc/degenerative-di
  sc-disease-topic-overviewgt.
• Duke University. "Bioengineers develop new
  approach to regenerate back discs." ScienceDaily,
  16 Jul. 2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2013.