Nerdy Science Blog

French and Australian scientists develop a new way of delivering stem cells to regenerate bone.  According to Dr Frank Caruso of the Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the University of Melbourne, the new injectable format made of synthetic polymers enclosing growth factor and stem cells can be injected to any part of the bone to mend broken and diseased bones and joints, and only single injection is required.  The sizes of capsules range from about 100 nanometres to ten of microns.  Stem cell capsule may be used for treatment in 5 to 10 years time if all things go well.  One of the problems need to be solved now is the rate of releasing growth factors as it determines the number of injections needed.  Effective stem cell transplantation for bones and joints regrowth is critical as bone cells do not heal themselves very well sometimes.  The development of stem cell delivery in capsule form has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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British researchers from Newcastle University and NorthEast England Stem Cell Institute claimed they created human sperm from embryonic stem cells.

Stem cells are known to be able to be developed into any kind of cells.  This is the first time scientists actually turn them into sperm cells.  The development of sperm through embryonic stem cells gives a beam of light to infertile men and also lesbian couples.  These people who are inability to reproduce can now have their own biological children.

Lead researcher Karim Nayernia from Newcastle University claimed that they had effectively used the sperm created in similar technique to produce baby mice.  The technique is published in the journal Stem Cells and Development.  However many scientists are not convinced the team created sperm, and many thought that the artificial human sperms are abnormal.

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Although Malaysa is lagged behind other countries in biotechnology sector, its growth is steadily increasing.

The Star:

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s stem cell research and therapy market is estimated to be worth US$157mil, said Malaysian Biotechnology Corp Sdn Bhd (BiotechCorp) chief executive officer Datuk Iskandar Mizal Mahmood.

He said although the penetration rate for stem cell research and therapy was still small, the potential of the sector was huge, with year-on-year growth rate estimated at about 12%.

Under Stem Cells Operational & Professional Excellence (Scope) programme by Stempeutics Research Malaysia Sdn Bhd, 15 Malaysian employees were trained in India and will be working at the Stempeutics stem cell lab at Technology Park Malaysia next month.  The coming Scope programme will be held in Malaysia and the amount of trainee will be increase to 45 people.

Had my farewell in KTV yesterday, it was fun, thanks to all my fellow lab mates.

“Kiss”, is a famous Korean romance sad song, was chosen by our cute-the-only-male-lab mate, it’s a sad song, but he manage to sing it a funny way~

This song is about romance between a photographer and her girlfriend, they fall in love through camera lens. Toward the end, accident happened in dark room, the pretty girlfriend was blinded with photo chemical splash into her beautiful eye. Photographer donated both of his eyeballs to her without her knowledge, and never shown up again. She thought she lose him.

To make the MV more touching and dramatic, they were arrange to meet in the end of the MV, the girl realize what kind of sacrifice her lover had done for her.

Well, i guess all of this wont happen if we are able to grow an extra eyeballs for that girl, this should be happy ending for the MV, and also for peoples in real life surrounding us. I believe stem cell research can solve this kind of problems, not only dozen of eyeballs, also kidneys, hearts, liver, perhaps limbs i.e., legs and hands. Sound fantasy huh? This should be more practical than depending on pig bladder in regenerating tissue. It’s not halal anyway, some of us won’t like it.

But for those who are brainless, I think there still no cure at current moment.

Monash University

A Monash University PhD student has developed a new technique that could revolutionise stem cell treatment for Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury.

David Nisbet from Monash University’s Department of Materials Engineering has used existing polymer-based biodegradable fibres, 100 times smaller than a human hair, and re-engineered them to create a unique 3-D scaffold that could potentially allow stem cells to repair damaged nerves in the human body more quickly and effectively.

Stempeutics Research is investing RM30 million (~USD10 million) on stem cell research and therapy so that stem cell therapy will be available and affordable to everyone.

Stempeutics Research, which is part of the India-based Manipal Education and Medical Group, became the first foreign company to set up a stem cell research and therapy centre here.

Stempeutics Research Malaysia Sdn Bhd will promote stem cell activity locally and focus on cutting edge research, therapeutics and therapy in the field of regenerative medicine.
Manohar said the Manipal Group would be investing about RM30 million in the next three to four years on the centre, to be located at the Technology Park Malaysia in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

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