A team of researchers from Canada and the U.S. has developed a novel hydrogel made from cellulose nanocrystals, which are derived from wood pulp. The hydrogel mimics the fibrous nanostructures and properties of human tissues, making it suitable for applications in regenerative medicine and personalized cancer therapy.
Healing Damaged Heart Tissue
One of the potential uses of the hydrogel is to repair heart tissue damaged by a heart attack. The hydrogel can be injected into the affected area, where it forms a nanofibrous scaffold that supports the growth and integration of new cardiac cells. The hydrogel also has electrical conductivity, which is essential for the proper functioning of the heart muscle.
The researchers tested the hydrogel in a rat model of myocardial infarction and found that it improved the cardiac function and reduced the scar size compared to a control group. The hydrogel also showed biocompatibility and biodegradability, meaning that it did not cause adverse immune reactions or accumulate in the body over time.
The hydrogel could offer a minimally invasive and effective alternative to current treatments for heart tissue damage, such as stem cell therapy, which has limitations in terms of availability, safety, and efficacy.
Improving Cancer Treatments
Another potential use of the hydrogel is to create tumor organoids, which are miniaturized versions of an individual patient’s tumor that can be used for drug testing. The hydrogel can provide a realistic and customizable environment for the tumor cells to grow and interact with other cells, such as immune cells and blood vessels.
The researchers used the hydrogel to create tumor organoids from donated breast cancer tissue and tested the effects of different drugs on them. They found that the hydrogel enabled the tumor organoids to respond to the drugs in a similar way as the original tumors, suggesting that the hydrogel could be used to predict the best treatment option for a specific patient.
The hydrogel could also be used to create tumor organoids from other types of cancer, such as prostate, lung, and colon cancer. The hydrogel could help overcome the challenges of conventional cancer models, such as animal models and cell cultures, which often do not reflect the complexity and diversity of human tumors.
A Wood-Based Miracle
The hydrogel is made from cellulose nanocrystals, which are tiny rod-shaped particles extracted from wood pulp. Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth and is widely used in paper, textiles, and other products. The researchers modified the cellulose nanocrystals with gelatin and calcium ions to create a hydrogel that has both mechanical strength and elasticity.
The hydrogel is also environmentally friendly, as it is derived from renewable and biodegradable sources. The researchers hope that their hydrogel will pave the way for more sustainable and innovative solutions for healthcare and beyond.
