Tissue nanotransfection holds promise as a treatment for traumatic muscle loss

Tissue nanotransfection holds promise as a treatment for traumatic muscle loss

A technology developed by researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine that can convert skin tissue into blood vessels and nerve cells has also shown promise as a treatment for traumatic muscle loss.

Tissue nanotransfection is a minimally invasive nanochip device that can reprogram tissue function by applying a harmless electrical spark to deliver specific genes in a split second.

A new study published in Nature Partner Journals Regenerative Medicine tested tissue nanotransfection-based gene therapy as a treatment aimed at delivering a gene known to be an important driver of muscle repair and regeneration. They found that muscle function improved when tissue nanotransfection was used as a therapy for seven days after volumetric muscle loss in rats. It is the first study to report that tissue nanotransfection technology can be used to generate muscle tissue and demonstrates its utility in combating volumetric muscle loss.

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Volumetric muscle loss is the traumatic or surgical loss of skeletal muscle resulting in impaired muscle strength and mobility. The affected muscle is unable to regenerate the amount of tissue lost and suffers significant loss of function, thereby reducing quality of life. A 20 percent loss of mass can result in up to 90 percent loss of muscle function.

Current clinical treatments for volumetric muscle loss are physical therapy or autologous tissue transfer (using a person's own tissue), the results of which are promising but require improved treatment regimens.

We are encouraged that tissue nanotransfection is emerging as a versatile platform technology for gene delivery, gene editing, and in vivo tissue reprogramming. This work demonstrates the potential of tissue nanotransfection in muscle tissue and opens a new avenue of investigation that should aid in the treatment of traumatic muscle loss. Importantly, it demonstrates the versatility of the tissue nanotransfection technology platform in regenerative medicine.”

Chandan Sen, director of the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering, associate vice president for research and distinguished professor at the IU School of Medicine

Sen also leads the regenerative medicine and engineering science pillar of the IU Precision Health Initiative and is lead author of the new publication.

The Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering is the home of tissue nanotransfection technology for in vivo tissue reprogramming, gene delivery and gene editing. To date, tissue nanotransfection has also been achieved in blood vessel and nerve tissue. Furthermore, recent work has shown that topical tissue nanotransfection can achieve cell-specific gene editing of skin wound tissue to improve wound closure.

Additional study authors include Andrew Clark, Subhadip Ghatak, Poornachander Reddy Guda, Mohamed S. El Masry and Yi Xuan, all of IU, and Amy Y. Sato and Teresita Bellido of Purdue University.

Source:

Indiana University

Reference:

Clark, A., et al. (2022) Nanotransfection of myogenic tissue improves muscle torque recovery after volumetric muscle loss. npj regenerative medicine. doi.org/10.1038/s41536-022-00259-y.

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