SBIR Phase I: Unique Biomaterial for Long-Term Culturing of Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Vitro

* 9661006 Pykett 在这个小型企业创新研究I期项目中，Cytomatrix提出研究一种独特的三维生物材料Cellfoam TM支持体外长期培养造血干细胞（HSC）的能力。 在体外培养干细胞的能力在很长一段时间内是至关重要的基础研究和临床医学的许多领域，但目前的培养系统已被证明是无效的，在维持HSC延长时间，也许是因为传统的单层培养缺乏体内发现的天然三维地形。 因此，迫切需要开发能够维持HSC的新型培养系统。 初步结果显示，与常规系统相比，Cellfoam能够在体外增强短期干细胞存活，而不损害HSC存活或多能性。 该项目将评估Cellfoam在体外长时间维持HSC的能力，并评估长期培养对干细胞生物学的影响。 具体而言，将测量在Cellfoam中培养六周的HSC的存活率、表型和多能性，并与常规系统进行比较。 基于以前短期Cellfoam培养的成功，预计Cellfoam将改善干细胞活力的长期维持。 第一阶段的研究结果将有助于开发用于维持和操纵HSC的先进培养系统。 Cellfoam TM系统将首次实现造血干细胞的长期维护、分析和操作。 Cellfoam设备的商业应用将利用基础科学和临床医学中需要但无法获得此类系统的现有市场。 应用促进了研究和临床领域的根本性进展，包括基因治疗，骨髓移植和输血医学，因此有可能对基础和临床学科产生重大影响。 ***

*** 9661006 Pykett In this Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project, Cytomatrix proposes to examine the ability of a unique three-dimensional biomaterial, Cellfoam TM, to support the long-term culturing of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in vitro. The ability to culture stem cells in vitro over prolonged periods is paramount to many areas of basic research and clinical medicine, yet current culture systems have proven ineffective in sustaining HSCs for extended periods, perhaps because traditional monolayer cultures lack the natural three-dimensional topography found in vivo. Thus, there is urgent need for the development of novel culture systems capable of sustaining HSCs. Preliminary results have shown that Cellfoam is capable of enhancing short- term stem cell survival in vitro compared to conventional systems without compromising HSC survival or pluripotency. This project will evaluate the ability of Cellfoam to sustain HSCs in vitro over extended periods and will assess the impact of long-term culture on stem cell biology. Specifically, the survival, phenotype, and multipotency of HSCs cultured for six weeks in Cellfoam will be measured and compared to conventional systems. Based on previous successes with short-term Cellfoam cultures, it is anticipated that Cellfoam will improve the long-term maintenance of stem cell viability. The Phase I research results will be instrumental in developing advanced culture systems for the maintenance and manipulation of HSCs. Cellfoam TM systems will enable, for the first time, the maintenance, analysis, and manipulation of hematopoietic stem cells over extended periods. Commercial applications of Cellfoam devices will take advantage of existing markets in basic science and clinical medicine in which such systems are required but unavailable. Applications foster fundamental advances in research and clinical fields, including gene therapy, bone marrow transplantation, and transfusion medicine, and thus have the potential for sign ificant impact on basic as well as clinical disciplines. ***