Scientists grow whole tooth units
Which contain connective fibers and bones:
JAPAN: A team of Japanese scientists have created complete
tooth units by using mouse stem cells and successfully transplanted them
into mice.
The tooth units, which also contain connective fibers and bones, were
attached successfully to the lower jaw bones, and helped the rats to
chew normally, researchers wrote in PLoS One.
As the first step, researchers isolated two types of stem cells from
the molar teeth of mice and grew them in the laboratory.
The cells formed a tiny "tooth bud" within five days, which were then
placed in a mold. The primary structures were then placed inside the
body of the mouse until a complete tooth unit was formed.
"The bioengineered teeth were fully functional ... there was no
trouble (with) biting and eating food after transplantation," wrote
Masamitsu Oshima from the Research Institute for Science and Technology,
Tokyo University of Science.
Researchers have expressed hope that their proceeding would pave the
way for the development of functional human organs including teeth from
a patient's own cells, Reuters reported. "At present, researchers
worldwide do not have the method to culture three-dimensional organs in
vitro (outside the body)," said lead author Professor Takashi Tsuji. "It
is important to develop technologies for the culture of the
bioengineered organ ... for the realization of future organ replacement
regenerative therapy," he added. Press TV |