Research group demonstrates regenerating bioengineered “fully functional organ (tooth)”
Substantial advance in the development of next-generation “organ replacement regenerative therapies”
A research group led by Takashi Tsuji (Professor in the Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, and Director of Organ Technologies Inc.) has demonstrated in growing new organs in adult mice. Tsuji is a research team member in “Health Labor Sciences Research Grant: Research on regenerative medicine for Clinical Application (Domain Leader: Professor Akira Yamaguchi of Tokyo Medical and Dental University)”, and “Priority Domain Research: Bio-engineering (Domain Leader: Professor Toshio Fukuda of Nagoya University)”. In transplantation experiments using the tooth as a model, a bioengineered tooth germ develops into a fully functioning bioengineered tooth with sufficient hardness for mastication and a functional responsiveness to mechanical stress in the maxillofacial region. The research also provided the results that the nerve fibers that have re-entered the pulp and periodontal ligament (PDL) tissues of the bioengineered tooth have proper perceptive potential in response to noxious stimulations such as orthodontic treatment and pulp stimulation.
A GFP-labeled bioengineered tooth in the oral environment of adult mice.
Tokyo University of Science
This research is expected to substantially advance in the development of “tooth regenerative therapy”, which have potential as next-generation regenerative therapies for replacing diseased or damaged teeth with bioengineered teeth. Specifically it will not only promote “tooth regenerative therapy”, whereby organ germs of bioengineered teeth are transplanted into the jaw bone to grow “3rd generation tooth”, but is expected to evolve into a wide variety of organ regenerative technologies for liver, kidney and other organs.
This research outcome was the fruit of joint research with Professor Teruko Takano-Yamamoto (Division of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Graduate School of Dentistry, Tohoku University, Japan) and Professor Shohei Kasugai (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Oral Restitution, Division of Oral Health Sciences, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan). It was announced in “Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA”.
Other news from the department science
Get the life science industry in your inbox
From now on, don't miss a thing: Our newsletter for biotechnology, pharma and life sciences brings you up to date every Tuesday and Thursday. The latest industry news, product highlights and innovations - compact and easy to understand in your inbox. Researched by us so you don't have to.
