Freeze-dried tendon implants hold promise

INTERN DAILY

disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

by Staff Writers
Rochester, N.Y. (UPI) Jan 8, 2008
U.S. researchers said donated freeze-dried tendon grafts loaded with gene therapy may soon be used to repair injured tendons.

A report, published in the journal Molecular Therapy, said the graft technique may provide the first effective framework around which flexor tendon tissue can reorganize as it heals.

University of Rochester Medical Center researchers found donated, freeze-dried tendons served as effective tissue-engineered scaffolds in testing on mice. The donated tissue also sucked up a solution of gene therapy vectors that directed the recipient's cells to accept the graft and remodel it into living tissue.

"Tendon is very durable," said study author Dr. Regis O'Keefe. "It could conceivably be freeze-dried, thawed and then freeze-dried again without damaging it."

Such tissue-engineering approaches could significantly improve repair of anterior cruciate ligaments and rotator cuffs as well, the report said.

"Orthopedic surgeons have been searching for the perfect material to replace tendon, one with the right mix of strength and elasticity and would not cause adhesion," senior author Hani Awad said. "We believe the only material to meet these strict requirements is non-living, but structurally intact tendon."

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

INTERN DAILY

Researchers ask: Is China the sleeping giant of biotech

Paris (AFP) Jan 7, 2008
China's biotech sector accounts for just a sliver of its pharmaceutical industry and operates under the cloud of a massive review of licenses issued under a regulator executed last year for accepting bribes.

CIVIL NUCLEAR Outside View: Russia's Iran nuke role Russia delivers more nuclear fuel to Iran: official Outside View: EU goes Russian nuclear France could provide Egypt with nuclear help: Sarkozy	CLIMATE SCIENCE Electric Sand Findings Could Lead To Better Climate Models Australian climate changing, experts say North Atlantic Warming Tied To Natural Variability; But Global Warming May Be At Play Elsewhere World to cool slightly in 2008: British experts
FARM NEWS Overgrazing Accelerating Soil Erosion In Northern Mexico Australia looks to GM crops after scorching 2007 Fisheries Should Be Regarded As A Part Of The Maritime Environment Illegal land grabs in China threatening food supplies: minister	FLORA AND FAUNA Humans Have Caused Profound Changes In Caribbean Coral Reefs Elephants outsmarting humans on Indonesia's Sumatra: report It's raining iguanas after Florida cold snap Evolution Education Is A Must Says Coalition Of Scientific And Teaching Organizations
ROCKET SCIENCE Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy aims to cut rocket launch costs: company 100 Years Of German Aerospace NASA J-2X Powerpack Testing Commences At Stennis Space Center Dawn Of The Ion Age	NUCLEAR SPACE Nuclear Power In Space - Part 2 Outside View: Nuclear future in space Nuclear Power In Space
EARTH OBSERVATION SERVIR: NASA Lends A Hand In Central America ISRO To Launch Carto-2A Satellite In January 2008 Outside View: Arctic satellite balance Lockheed Martin Awarded Contract For GOES-R Geostationary Lightning Mapper	TECH SPACE In world of convergence, mini-TVs get legs Pocket-sized gadgets get picture projection power Smaller Is Stronger - Now Scientists Know Why Radar Equipment From EADS To Be Deployed On TanDEM-X Satellite

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement