Scaffold Technology Could Help Scientists Grow Organs

At the University of Bristol, researchers have engineered a type of "scaffold" technology, which allows them to grow larger pieces of tissue in the lab.

This may lead to growing entire organs for transplant patients. Previously only small pieces of tissue could be grown because of oxygen not reaching cells at the center of the tissue.

Researchers found a way to deliver a second source of oxygen to cells at the center. Researchers found they could give the cells extra "tank" of oxygen and use it to breathe from when there is not enough oxygen in the local environment.

The study tested theory with cartilage tissue and synthesized a new class of artificial membrane-binding proteins that can be attached to stems cells.

They then attached an oxygen-carrying protein, myoglobin, to the cartilage stem cells to provide oxygen for cells to access when levels get too low in the scaffold. This created a new method of growing tissue will pave the way for further advancements.

This could help overcome the hurdle of growing large organs.