Cellular Scuba Tank

Stem cells have a special property called pluripotency, which lets them become any type of cell in the body. Scientists can take advantage of this by using stem cells to grow living tissue or organs in the lab. However, there are particular challenges to successfully growing larger tissues in the lab, such as how to supply oxygen to the cells growing in the centre that become suffocated by the surrounding cells. New research has found a way to overcome this, by attaching an oxygen-carrying protein called myoglobin to the cells. Here's an artist’s impression of myoglobin in action. “It’s like supplying each cell with its own scuba tank,” said Dr Adam Perriman, lead researcher from the University of Bristol. With this new method, scientists may be able to engineer large pieces of cartilage, muscle and bone for studying diseases, testing potential treatments and implanting to replace damaged body parts.

Written by Kevin Pollock

Kevin Pollock

Writer

Kevin was an immunologist at the Mayo Clinic before completing the science journalism programme at City University. He is now working behind the scenes on the BPoD project, and also as a freelance science journalist.

• Image by Warwick Bromley
• With permission to reuse from artist
• Research published in Nature Communications, June 2015