Using sheep, separate studies from France and the US have uncovered potential biomaterial treatments for heart disease and cartilage damage.
A biomaterial is a substance or mixture of substances that can be introduced into the human body to replace part of an organ’s function or structure.
A study from the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research (Inserm) and the University of Bordeaux explored the creation of heart valves made of biomaterials, as a new way to treat congenital heart disease, which affects 1 in every 4000 births.
The main material in the valves was collagen (a common structural protein in the human body), which was produced from skin fragments collected, for example, from surgical waste from hospitals.
Scientists first tested the heart valves in human cells then implanted them into newborn sheep – see also the report from radio station Europe 1. The valves functioned as planned and adapted to the growing animal – a critical factor for pediatric applications, which are often limited in their longevity.
Fabien Kawecki, at Inserm, said: “Thanks to our two models, we have obtained proof of concept that the valve we have designed is functional and can easily be fitted following the same surgical procedures as in humans, which is promising if we are to move on to clinical studies in a few years’ time.”
With the data collected, the team also built a new digital model to predict how potential biomaterials work before testing in animals, in an application of the 3Rs.
Another study in sheep, in the US, tested a new biomaterial designed to stimulate cartilage regrowth, for people with joint injuries and arthritis.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a scaffold made of biomaterials, composed partly of hyaluronic acid, a popular ingredient in skincare that is also present in joints. They tested the scaffold in sheep with joint damage and it promoted cartilage regrowth, improving joint function.
Because sheep have slower cartilage regeneration rates, similar to people, they are a better model for predicting how a treatment will work than smaller animals, said Samuel Stupp, at Northwestern.