Spheritech is awarded a European grant to develop polymers for applications in human kidney regeneration
3 Feb 2012
Renal disease is a global public health problem, with the incidence of end stage renal disease (ESRD) rising annually. Current treatment options for ESRD are dialysis or renal transplantation, which have significant drawbacks in terms of increased morbidity and mortality, besides placing an increasing economic burden on society.
One potential solution to this issue is to use human kidney-derived stem/progenitor cells (KSPCs) for drug discovery and cellular therapy. In order to do this it is necessary to develop three dimensional supermacroporous scaffolds that mimic the structure and surface characteristics of natural intercellular matrices. Spheritech has invented and is now developing a novel, bioresorbable biopolymer that mimics the pore structure and surface characteristics of natural collagen more closely than any previously envisaged synthetic polymer. The new polymer is manufactured from naturally occurring materials and will degrade to by-products that are already present in the body.
As part of a wider European campaign, Spheritech has been awarded a grant worth 114,000 Euro to develop the company’s novel polymer platform for regeneration of human kidney tissue. This will be done in collaboration with a host of Universities across Europe including two UK based institutions, Liverpool University and University College London.
Don Wellings, CEO and founder of Spheritech says “we are already developing the polymer in macroporous sheet form and as microspheres for applications in wound management”. He goes on to state “the grant will allow us to expand the development of our novel macroporous biopolymers into one of the most important areas of regenerative medicine”.
For more information about Spheritch please click here.
