LSU researchers led by veterinary medicine professor Mandi Lopez have introduced a groundbreaking syringe device that could revolutionize tendon injury treatment.
With 20 years of research experience at LSU, Lopez, who is also the director of the laboratory for equine and comparative orthopedic research for the LSU Department of Veterinary Clinical Services, has made adult stem cell research a focal point of her work. This new technology enhances stem cell viability and simplifies the delivery process, promising faster recovery and improved outcomes in regenerative medicine.
“We devised a device that allows us to put the new tissue into the device when it leaves the laboratory. It stays in that device in a supportive environment with a nutritional medium,” Lopez said.
This ensures that the tissue remains viable and uncontaminated during transportation. Once the tissue reaches the patient, the support medium can be safely removed, and the new tissue can be injected directly into the injury site, eliminating the need to move it from where it was initially placed in the laboratory.
“Every time you manipulate the new tissue, you have a chance of contamination and losing some of the new tissue, decreasing the viability or the number of live cells,” Lopez said. However, with this new device, Lopez has created a one-stop shop for stem cells.
The device minimizes the risk of contamination and tissue loss during transportation and administration by providing a controlled environment for the stem cells. As a result, more stem cells can remain viable when administered to the patient. This not only improves the overall effectiveness of the treatment but also simplifies the process for healthcare providers, making stem cell therapy more accessible and efficient for patients.
Currently, the device’s primary focus is healing tendons, which have a poor natural healing capacity and typically heal through scarring. By enhancing the viability and delivery efficiency of stem cells, the device has the potential to significantly improve healing times and outcomes for patients with tendon injuries and more.
“The beauty of the device is that it’s 3D printable with medical-grade plastic, so we can print it or design it in virtually any shape or size to meet the needs of whatever medical application we want to use it for,” Lopez said.
The innovative approach reflects the ingenuity of Lopez’s team, which features a diverse array of perspectives including those outside of medicine.
“I’ve worked with a collaborative team. This device specifically has former LSU engineering students as co-inventors. They personally participated at essentially every level in the design and reduction to practice,” Lopez said. “I love collaboration, and I love working with individuals within the same medical discipline, but especially outside of my specific area of expertise.”
Through the LSU Office of Innovation & Technology Commercialization, Lopez has applied for a patent for the device. If approved, it would mark her eighth patent.
“I’m always devising and creating and trying new things. They’re rarely successful the first time, for sure. But with just persistence and creativity … we’ve met with some reasonable success,” Lopez said. “I’m a big fan of inventing. I always encourage creativity; people are far more creative than they know.”
The syringe device represents a significant step forward in stem cell therapy, offering an efficient and effective method for delivering innovative treatments to patients in need.
