An acellular bioresorbable ultra-purified alginate gel promotes intervertebral disc repair

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H03176
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biomedical engineering/Biomaterial science and engineering
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: Sudo Hideki 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 特任准教授 (30374367)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 東 秀明 北海道大学, 人獣共通感染症リサーチセンター, 教授 (20311227) ; 岩崎 倫政 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 教授 (30322803)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 生体機能材料 / 再生医学 / 椎間板再生 / 生体力学 / 医工連携 / 脊椎脊髄病 / 整形外科

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The current surgical procedure of choice for lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation is discectomy. However, defects within IVD produced upon discectomy may impair tissue healing and predispose patients to subsequent IVD degeneration. This study aimed to investigate whether the use of an acellular bioresorbable ultra-purified alginate (UPAL) gel implantation system is safe and effective as a reparative therapeutic strategy after lumbar discectomy.
The UPAL gel was biocompatible with human IVD cells and promoted extracellular matrix production after discectomy, demonstrating sufficient biomechanical characteristics without material protrusion.
The present results indicate the safety and efficacy of UPAL gels in a large animal model and suggest that these gels represent a novel therapeutic strategy after discectomy in cases of lumbar IVD herniation.

Free Research Field

整形外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

椎間板は自然再生能力が低く、例えば椎間板ヘルニアに対する手術治療では摘出部の空隙は変性を来す要因となる。そこで、生体内における組織修復環境を最適化することで組織再生が促進されるという仮説のもと、エンドトキシン含有量を極限まで排除した高純度硬化性ゲルを用いた無細胞移植椎間板組織自然再生誘導法を検討した。本治療戦略に対する組織修復メカニズムや橋渡し研究の成果が証明されたことで、探索的医師主導治験へと進むことができた。