Question: To what extent do your medicines regenerate?

Anne Canning answered on 15 Jun 2015:

Hi Smithy,

The aim of my work is to make materials that help stem cells grow in high numbers, so there are enough to have an effect when put in the body as a treatment. Stem cells are cells which can turn into any cell type in the body so are being investigated for use in tissue and organ replacement, fighting cancer, in neurodegenerative diseases and many more. In research terms its quite a new area, so there’s still a long way to go until medicines with stem cells are available for everyone.
The most recent treatment made available is a polymer full of stem cells which is implanted in the eye to help restore blindness, which is really cool. 2D implants are less complicated than 3D implants. however 3D printing has helped progress the making of 3D structures. Researchers are investigating different polymers that can be printed into 3D structures to then be put in the body ie. organ, bone, skin replacements.