Taiwan develop novel HM method - 31 Jul 08

[chrome]

Scientists developed new platform for large-scale production of dermal papilla microtissues for hair follicle regeneration -

Scientists at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University developed new platform for large-scale production of dermal papilla microtissues for hair follicle regeneration. Dermal papilla is know to be essential for the induction of the regeneration of new hair follicles (so-called hair multiplication) in adult animals and humans.

Major obstacle in achieving effective large-scale hair regeneration platform based on use of dermal papilla induction properties is in inability to efficiently produce dermal papilla aggregates in cell culture.

Now scientists developed cell culture platform when dermal papilla cells are seeded onto poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVAL) membranes. EVAL facilitates dermal papilla cells self-assembly into many compact spheroidal microtissues that are able to induce new hair follices. This system can be used as part of large-scale efficient hair multiplication protocol.

New hair follicles induced by dermal papillae microtissues

This study is published in 2008 edition of journal Biomaterials

 

[chrome]

Re: Taiwan develop novel HM method - 07 Aug 08

Title:
Self-assembly of dermal papilla cells into inductive spheroidal microtissues on poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) membranes for hair follicle regeneration.

Author(s):
Young TH , Lee CY , Chiu HC , Hsu CJ , Lin SJ

Publication Date:
07-08-2008


Abstract:

Self-aggregation is key to hair follicle (HF) induction ability of dermal papilla (DP) cells and neogenesis of HF can be achieved by transplanting DP microtissues. However, there is currently lack of a suitable system that allows efficient production of DP microtissues and analysis of DP self-aggregation in vitro. We demonstrate that, at a higher seeding cell density, poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVAL) membranes facilitate DP self-assembly into many compact spheroidal microtissues that are able to induce new HFs. This self-assembling process is associated with an enhanced cell movement and a declined cell-substrate adhesivity on EVAL. A compromised cell growth is also revealed on EVAL. On the contrary, a more adherent surface allows faster cell expansion but maintains DP cells in a flat morphology. Dynamically, cell migration, intercellular collision and intercellular adhesion contribute to DP microtissue formation on EVAL. Our results suggest that, for large-scale production of DP microtissues for HF regeneration, an adhesive surface is needed for quick cell expansion and a biomaterial with a lower adhesivity is required for self-aggregation. In addition, this system can be a model for investigation of DP self-aggregation in vitro.

Article Outline
1. Introduction
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) (EVAL) membrane preparation
2.2. Cell culture
2.3. Cell attachment and cell growth
2.4. Determination of conditions that yield DP microtissues
2.5. Viability of DP microtissues
2.6. Morphology, molecular markers and HF induction ability of DP microtissues
2.7. Time-lapse microscopy, cell migration and dynamic process of microtissue formation
3. Results
3.1. The formation of multicellular DP microtissues on EVAL membranes at higher seeding cell number
3.2. Local cell density is the major determinant of DP microtissue formation on EVAL membranes
3.3. Number and size distribution of DP microtissues on EVAL membranes
3.4. Characters of DP microtissues on EVAL
3.5. High viability of cells in DP microtissues and the transformable cell morphology on different substratum
3.6. DP microtissues are able to induce new HFs
3.7. Declined adhesivity and enhanced cell migration on EVAL membranes
3.8. Dynamics of DP microtissue formation on EVAL membranes
3.9. Enhanced cell growth on the adhesive surface
4. Discussion
5. Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References

Source: Biomaterials (Biomaterials) or not only
Journal Rank: 8.20308799848442Rank is based on: Journal Citation Reports® Impact Factors published by Thomson Scientific, Inc. Rank range: from 0.01 to 100
Forward Citations: No PubMed citations
Volume: 29(26)
Publication Date: 07-08-2008
Research Institution: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 1, Jen-Ai Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Publication Language: eng
Main Field(s) of Science/Medicine: ,
Additional Field(s) of Science/Medicine::

 

[Matt27]

Yet another HM player.

What's the list up to now Chrome?? So far we have:

Intercytex
Aderans
RNL Bio
Taiwan University (although it sounds like this technology could potentially benefit any company seriously looking into HM)

Am I missing any??

 

[michael barry]

What's the list up to now Chrome?? So far we have:

Intercytex
Aderans
RNL Bio
Taiwan University (although it sounds like this technology could potentially benefit any company seriously looking into HM)

There is a company called Histogen in San Diego, and a group of Indian Clinics has a HM research project headed by the former president of the European Hair Research Society. A company called Phoenixbio used to be looking into HM, and a company named Shishedo used to be looking into HM also, but I dont know if either entity is still involved in research in the area or not because we haven't heard anything out of them for so long.


I always wanted a HM trial to attempt to cultivate the inductive cells and shoot the DONOR AREA back up, and see if the wreath could be greatly thickened. I think the wreath would be a lot more conductive skin to attempt to get hair follicles to form in. Any extra hair made could be FUE'd back up to the front. I have a feeling that a lot of the problems they run into in getting good yield in HM experiments is due to the fact that bald scalp skin isn't the best environment for follicle formation as it is different from hirsute scalp.




This discovery could be very helpful. If we could just have a "place" for the cells to formulate proto hairs or baby follicles, then they could probaby be successfully transplanted into bald scalp to grow big hairs. ICX did indeed grow a little hair in their phase two trial on bald scalp, but 13-103% increases isn't enough on bald scalp. A 103% increase in wreath density however would equate to a lot of new hair...............................that could be FUE'd up front. Im pragmatic. Im all for the first thing that would work.