A research team led by Kyoto University School of Medicine, together with Saga University and Cyfuse Co., Ltd., succeeded in developing nerve regeneration technology for the first time in the world using a bio 3D printer as a new treatment method for peripheral nerve injury.
Currently, the mainstream treatment for peripheral nerve injury is to transplant a part of the nerve such as the patient's lower leg.However, because a part of the healthy nerve was removed, it caused sensory nerve paralysis and abnormal perception around the collection site.Therefore, artificial nerves using various artificial materials have been developed, but the treatment results equivalent to those of autologous nerve transplantation have not been obtained, and they are not widely used.
Cyfuse has developed a technology for stacking cell aggregates on Mt. Tsurugi and a ripening technology using a reflux device by utilizing the phenomenon that separated cells aggregate.As a result, we have succeeded in developing the world's first bio 3D printer "Regenova" that produces a three-dimensional structure consisting only of cells.This time, we succeeded in producing a bio-three-dimensional nerve regeneration conduit structure that induces regenerative nerve axons, based on the technology based on the production results of cartilage tissue, vascular tissue, etc.
In the case of artificial nerves, the lack of cellular components and the lack of environmental factors such as cytokines required for induction of regenerative axons were considered to be the reasons why good results could not be obtained.Therefore, the research team transplanted a bio-three-dimensional nerve regeneration duct made only of cells using "Regenova" into a rat sciatic nerve injury model, and obtained results that were better than artificial nerves and comparable to autologous nerve transplantation.It is said that good induction of regenerative axons was obtained by cytokines and angiogenesis released from bionerve three-dimensional regeneration ducts prepared from fibroblasts.
In the future, after obtaining a non-clinical POC and clearing a non-clinical safety study, the company plans to start a doctor-led clinical trial three years later.