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Simple surface design helps stem cells repair tissues faster

This approach could improve therapies for heart, liver, and immune diseases

03-Jul-2025

Key points from article :

Scientists from Japan and the US have found a new way to grow stem cells that could make treatments more effective. They developed a special surface with stripes that guide stem cells to grow in straight lines, like cells in muscle or skin. This surface responds to temperature, so when cooled, the entire sheet of cells detaches gently without damage.

The team discovered that this striped pattern makes stem cells release more proteins that help repair tissue and control the immune system. These proteins include factors that help new blood vessels form and support liver healing. When stem cells are given as single cells, they often spread out too much and don’t stay at the damaged site.

Growing them as sheets keeps them together and preserves their natural connections, which helps them work better. The method does not affect their ability to become other cell types but makes them stronger as a group. Published in Materials Today Bio, this research suggests that these new stem cell sheets could be used to treat heart disease, liver damage, and autoimmune diseases more efficiently, making therapies safer and more targeted.

The study is published in the journal Materials Today Bio.

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Materials Today Bio

Science journal

University of Utah

Public Research university.

Topics mentioned on this page:
Stem Cells, Regenerative Medicine
Simple surface design helps stem cells repair tissues faster