Novel Hydrogel System Eliminates and Improves Retainment of Non-Senescent Mesenchymal Stem Cell Populations

The Regenerative Medicine Paper

The publication of Ronawk’s first Bio-Block™ paper, “Novel Hydrogel System Eliminates and Improves Retainment of Non-Senescent Mesenchymal Stem Cell Populations” was published by Regenerative Medicine on October 12th, 2022. This manuscript is a significant milestone for Ronawk, as it represents the first research manuscript produced by the company to be accepted by the scientific community. The research in the manuscript covers the use of Ronawk’s first developed Bio-Block™, the Tissue Block (T-Block), which is used to successfully grow adult adipose (fat tissue) derived stem cells (ASCs).

In the current manuscript, we show that we were able to successfully grow ASCs over a 6-week period without ever needing to sub-culture the ASCs. ASCs retained key stem cell features and there was a significant reduction in the number of cells that stopped dividing over time, which is known as senescence. In addition, we showed that ASCs grown in the T-Blocks produced by-products that could be collected and used to enhance the growth of keratinocytes which are a cell type found in the skin, and which are responsible for forming the water-tight barrier that protects the rest of our skin and internal organs from the outside environment. Hence, the T-Blocks provide an environment, where the ACS could be more active and produce more therapeutic by-products than when grown in traditional 2D monolayers.

Ronawk’s Hydrogel System Reduces Senescence

This work is significant because by successfully growing ASCs without the need to sub-culture, we are able to reduce the human labor needed to grow these important cells outside of the body while maximizing the biological opportunity. The Bio-Blocks allow scientists to do more with less.

This publication of our first manuscript is a tremendous step forward in demonstrating the utility and value proposition of the Bio-Blocks. While this first paper focused on the performance of ASCs over time in T-Blocks, we have another manuscript we are anxiously awaiting acceptance of that illustrates the immediate benefits and behaviors of when ASCs are seeded into T-Blocks. We also have studies that demonstrate how different cell types perform in other Bio-Blocks such as X-Blocks, which can be dissolved to release cells making harvesting easy, and E-Blocks which can be used to enhance the production of biological by-products for therapeutic research.

We look forward to sharing these studies over the next 12 months, once they are published.

Regenerative Medicine Paper – Figure 1: T-Block’s Unique 3D Hydrogel Design Eliminates Sub-Culturing

Regenerative Medicine Paper – Figure 2: Retention of stem-like surface markers in 3D hydrogel over time.

Regenerative Medicine Paper Supplemental Videos

Please enjoy our first paper on the growth of ASCs in T-Blocks from Regenerative Medicine.

Feel free to share with your friends and colleagues, and let us know what you think about the paper or if you have questions by contacting us.

If you would like to try out our T-Blocks, or any of our other Bio-Blocks

To learn more about traditional cell culture and why the Bio-Blocks are a better alternative, see our article: Traditional Cell Culture