Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)

Medical therapies using undifferentiated cells (stem and progenitor) are emerging and are defining a new era in regenerative medicine. Our proposed research study targets the development of a cell encapsulation process for delivery to patients suffering from severe life-threatening disorders. Specifically, we are working with Northern Therapeutics, a Canadian biotechnology company that has developed new and effective autologous cell therapies for pulmonary diseases. A fundamental limitation to new cell therapies is the currently cumbersome cell pre-conditioning process that limits the widespread commercialization of their technology. To address this unmet and critical cell processing need, we have assembled a team of researchers from both physics and the life sciences to develop a scalable microfluidics-based stem cell encapsulation procedure that will allow for the rapid and reproducible manufacture of single-cell capsules. These capsules will be supplemented with novel biomimetic matrices that include bionanoparticles specifically designed to enhance cell function and organ-specific engraftment, and this way enhance the therapeutic effect of the cells. If successful this research will be widely applicable to the field of regenerative medicine, be of marked benefit to chronically ill patients, aide in the global competitiveness of a Canadian company, and stimulate economic development in Canada in an emerging new market.