
Researchers João Mano, Maria Clara Gomes, and Catarina Custódio have developed a methodology to obtain microscopic particles (microparticles) from proteins extracted from human platelets. A wide range of applications is foreseen in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and other biomedical fields.
"The platforms currently used to promote cell adhesion require synthetic materials or complex and exhaustive processes, which limit their effectiveness," explains João Mano, leader of the COMPASS research group and professor at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Aveiro (UA). "The technology presented here is derived from platelet lysates obtained from expired blood samples, offering a sustainable alternative to materials that are typically discarded," he adds.
Platelets are small cells present in our blood that assist in clotting and wound healing. These cells are rich in proteins such as growth factors and cytokines, which are essential for biological regulation. Through centrifugation processes, platelets can be separated from other blood cells, and through cycles of freezing and thawing, they can be broken down to collect only their proteins.
The microparticles, which are the subject of protection in this patent application, stand out for their rapid production and ability to serve as adhesion and expansion points for cells from various tissue types, aiding in the formation of microtissues. Additionally, these microparticles have demonstrated the ability to influence cell differentiation, providing a favorable microenvironment for bone tissue development. This is made possible by the lamellar topography present on the surface of the microparticles, which allows differentiation without the need for external stimuli, as required by other types of biomaterials.
"Due to their origin, this type of biomaterial prevents immunological complications and rejection of the platform presented here. Furthermore, this platform can be used as a substrate for fabricating organ- and tissue-mimicking microenvironments," explains João Mano. The use of proteins of human origin also presents a lower risk of rejection and disease transmission compared to current alternatives.
The composition of these microparticles enables the modeling of various cellular functions, such as adhesion and proliferation, as well as the construction of autonomous three-dimensional structures. Given the composition and production method of these particles, a broad range of applications is expected in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and other biomedical fields.
The development of these platelet lysate-based microparticles was supported by the European ERC-Adv REBORN project, with ERC standing for European Research Council.
This technology has been the subject of a national patent application, which has advanced with international protection via the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), allowing for extended protection of this technology in different territories in the future.
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