One of the long-time dreams of medical science is to help people naturally regenerate organs, or even limbs – and thanks to porcine tissues, we may be one small step closer to that goal! An exciting new study from researchers at the University of Connecticut led by Dr. Cato T. Laurencin has come out, showing a novel new way to convert porcine muscle tissue into hydrogels which are suitable for use in humans. Their process strips the tissue of animal DNA and other materials which would trigger immune rejection processes in humans. This opens the potential for using xenograft porcine hydrogels to enhance natural regeneration processes.
The future of human organ and muscle regeneration might be pig-based. Read on to learn more.
From Pig Skeletal Muscles to Human-Ready Xenograft Hydrogel
The UConn study hinges on use of hydrogels to support and enhance human tissue regeneration.
Hydrogels are polymers made up from contrasting materials which are either extremely hydrophilic or hydrophobic. In short, they are capable of absorbing large amounts of water and then containing the water within a hydrophobic water-resistant layer that keeps it in place.
Hydrogels, especially those made from organic materials, also have a tendency to mimic the extracellular matrices (ECM) that help hold body tissue cells together. This makes them highly valuable for aiding in tissue regeneration, in a variety of ways.
Hydrogels can:
- Provide structure and support for regrowing tissues
- Deliver cells, such as stem cells, to damaged tissue
- Deliver medications or other bioactive chemicals
- Act as a barrier between the tissue and outside medical materials like bio-adhesives
- In some cases, help guide tissue regeneration directly
However, one challenge facing researchers is that biogels derived from non-human sources tend to trigger the immune system, leading to rejection of the treatment. The accomplishment of Dr. Laurencin’s team is finding a way to take porcine skeletal muscle, convert it into porcine hydrogel, and in the process, strip it of the elements which would trigger the immune system.
They utilized a combination of mechanical disruption, chemical detergents, and targeted enzymes while working with finely-ground swine muscle tissue. In this way, they were able to remove the porcine DNA and xenoantigens from the tissue, without disrupting its other properties that allowed hydrogels to support tissue regeneration. The larger purpose of the study was to seek affordable and easy ways to produce human-ready xenograft hydrogels, since swine tissue is inexpensive and readily available.
To be clear, this study did not involve any direct human experimentation. It only focused on producing human-ready porcine hydrogels. Looking for ways to utilize them in practical medical procedures will be the next step.
This isn’t the only study that investigated the use of pig tissues to encourage muscle regeneration. Read on for more!
How Pigs’ Bladders May Be Deployed to Undo Muscle Loss
Another study, which we initially covered in 2019, is also relevant here.
Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania were working with solders who had been grievously wounded by explosives. They had lost upwards of 2/3 of the muscles in their legs, far more than what the body could naturally regenerate without simply producing scar tissue.
In the 2014 study, the researchers harvested cells from the porcine urinary system and converted them into an extracellular matrix, which was then implanted into the wounded men’s legs after removing the scar tissue. These ECMs were designed to work in tandem with the men’s own stem cells, encouraging muscle regeneration while providing a supportive structure for regrowth.
The treatment was based on a then-unproven theory that ECMs were not merely structural, and they could also act as a chemical messenger. Essentially, the implanted pig-derived ECMs began to send peptides into the soldiers’ bodies which triggered their own stem cells to migrate towards the damaged area. This was based on earlier rodent tests, which showed the potential of swine-derived ECMs to improve muscle regeneration in animals.
The results, while not overwhelming, were still positive. In combination with standard physical therapy, three of the five test subjects saw a 20%+ increase in leg strength and 25%+ increase in overall daily functionality. The pig bladder ECMs successfully encouraged muscle regeneration beyond what could naturally occur.
Expanding Medical Frontiers With ABI
We are one of America’s leading sources for post-mortem pig tissues, harvested by a team of experts on-demand to meet any medical or educational needs.
Over the decades, we have been indirectly involved in numerous groundbreaking research projects, such as the UPenn swine ECM study. We aren’t simply providing a service – we’re proud to help advance medical science by providing high-quality, reliable, research-grade porcine tissue. Our goal is to help make your research succeed!
We can provide any type or amount of porcine tissue, as needed, even specialized parts and tissues not easily sourced. Our packaging is also cutting-edge, designed to preserve the materials in an eco-friendly package which can either be reused, or safely recycled. We offer robust tissue shipping options as well, with next-day or even same-day delivery often available, depending on exact circumstances.
If your research or educational process calls for porcine biological material, you can always rely on ABI to provide what you need. Contact us to learn more or place an order.
