Injectable Sponge Keeps Structure and Delivers Drugs

Nov-17-12 Researchers have developed a gel-based bioscaffold sponge that can be delivered via a syringe, gradually delivering its cargo of drugs or stem-cells before degrading.

Although there are other injectable gels, they lack structure and will flow to fill any available space. The injectable sponge-like gel, however, can be created in any size and shape in order to fill specific areas of the body where tissue is deficient. Primarily made up of the seaweed-based jelly alginate, the sponge features a network of large pores that allow for the free-passes of liquids and large molecules. Live cells could be attached to the walls of the network, and the alginate jelly itself can hold proteins and drugs, which would be released slowly as the sponge biodegrades.

According to team leader David J. Mooney, the simplest application of the sponge would be to introduce material in the body to replace tissue that has been lost, although it could also be used to transplant stem cells or immune cells.

Image: Bioengineers at Harvard pushed pink squares, hearts, and stars through a syringe to demonstrate the versatility and robustness of their gel.

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[GIZMAG.COM]
[HARVARD UNIVERSITY]

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