Pioneering Renovite nanoclay gels in cell therapy
Lead Research Organisation:
Renovos Biologics Limited
Department Name: Southampton Office
Abstract
Synthetic nanoclays can form hydrogels that act as tissue templates and can be used to encapsulate, deliver and crucially, retain various molecules at a required site to influence tissue regeneration. Critically, Renovos has been pioneering the use of this novel material, Renovite, for medical applications as an injectable gel for localised protein delivery.
We have now established a new synthesis capability for Renovite nanoclay gels, extending the avenues for development for this industrially sustainable biomaterial across regenerative medicine. Due to the ability of the nanoclay gels to localise and retain molecules, this type of local delivery application offers improved safety and allows for lowering of the effective dose of many biologics that can be otherwise toxic.
Nanoclay gels are also potentially excellent candidates for delivering cells as the nanoclays allow diffusion of nutrients and their basic physical properties mimic the cell's native environment.
I will pioneer the use of this novel, synthetic gel biomaterial for application in cell therapy, building on the regenerative protein delivery background within Renovos and my expertise and interests in stem cell research. The largest unmet need from a medical and commercial perspective is novel biomaterial solutions that improve delivery and localisation for cells used in clinical practice (chondrocytes / autologous chondrocyte implantation or ACI) for cartilage regeneration or bone marrow aspirates (BMAs) for regenerative and immune modulating applications in cartilage and bone. This fellowship will provide innovation in cell therapy by delivering cutting-edge solutions based on a cost-effective, disruptive and highly competitive nanoclay biomaterial.
We have now established a new synthesis capability for Renovite nanoclay gels, extending the avenues for development for this industrially sustainable biomaterial across regenerative medicine. Due to the ability of the nanoclay gels to localise and retain molecules, this type of local delivery application offers improved safety and allows for lowering of the effective dose of many biologics that can be otherwise toxic.
Nanoclay gels are also potentially excellent candidates for delivering cells as the nanoclays allow diffusion of nutrients and their basic physical properties mimic the cell's native environment.
I will pioneer the use of this novel, synthetic gel biomaterial for application in cell therapy, building on the regenerative protein delivery background within Renovos and my expertise and interests in stem cell research. The largest unmet need from a medical and commercial perspective is novel biomaterial solutions that improve delivery and localisation for cells used in clinical practice (chondrocytes / autologous chondrocyte implantation or ACI) for cartilage regeneration or bone marrow aspirates (BMAs) for regenerative and immune modulating applications in cartilage and bone. This fellowship will provide innovation in cell therapy by delivering cutting-edge solutions based on a cost-effective, disruptive and highly competitive nanoclay biomaterial.
Organisations
| Description | Early key findings include improvements on the existing technology specifically for cell delivery and comprehensive methods for histological and molecular analysis of cells within the 3D nanoclay environment in laboratory experiments. This was previously problematic due to the physicochemical properties of the nanoclay materials, which interfered with many test readouts. The new methodology might form part of a patent filing in the future, and will also be subsequently published. |
| Exploitation Route | The early outcomes will be put into good use during product development phase, as well as shared with the wider community working on nanoclay materials to improve their methodology and analysis. |
| Sectors | Healthcare Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
| Title | Method for high yield nucleic acid extraction from nanoclay and dye penetration into nanoclays for analysis |
| Description | Early key findings include improvements on the existing technology specifically for cell delivery and comprehensive methods for histological and molecular analysis of cells within the 3D nanoclay environment in laboratory experiments. This was previously problematic due to the physicochemical properties of the nanoclay materials, which interfered with many test readouts. The new methodology might form part of a patent filing in the future, and will also be subsequently published. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Impact will be in current product development and after publishing, to the wider community working on nanoclays. |