MAPC Therapy for Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for hypoxic-ischemic brain injuries, such as cortical infarcts and stroke, are limited, and there is a need for more effective methods that do not pose immunogenic risks or ethical concerns associated with embryonic stem cells, while also being easily accessible and safe for use.

Innovation Solution

The use of multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) that can differentiate into multiple embryonic lineages, administered alone or with other therapeutic agents, to treat brain injuries and diseases without the need for immunosuppressive treatments, derived from readily available sources like placenta, umbilical cord, or bone marrow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If embryonic stem cells are used to treat brain injuries, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but immunogenic risks and ethical concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic effectivenessVSAvoidimmunogenic risks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the stem cell source into adult progenitor cells rather than using whole embryonic stem cells, thereby reducing immunogenicity while maintaining therapeutic differentiation capacity into neural and other tissue lineages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses adult progenitor cells as an intermediary between embryonic stem cells and differentiated cells, providing a middle ground that offers therapeutic potential without the severe immunogenic and ethical problems of embryonic stem cells

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If embryonic stem cells are used to treat brain injuries, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but ethical concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic effectivenessVSAvoidethical concerns

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using embryonic stem cells (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by using adult progenitor cells, thereby eliminating ethical concerns while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness through differentiation into needed tissue types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If whole body hypothermia is used to treat HI injury, then short-term safety is improved, but long-term therapeutic benefit is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshort-term safetyVSAvoidtherapeutic benefit period

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent administers adult progenitor cells shortly after birth as a preliminary action that establishes a foundation for long-term neural repair and regeneration, extending therapeutic benefit beyond the immediate postnatal period when hypothermia is effective

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If adult progenitor cells are used to treat brain injuries, then immunogenic risks are reduced, but differentiation potential must be sufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimmunogenic risksVSAvoiddifferentiation potential

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent demonstrates that adult progenitor cells possess multi-functionality by differentiating into multiple lineage types including neural, epithelial, and mesenchymal cells, thereby providing universal therapeutic potential while maintaining low immunogenicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

MAPCs demonstrate significant therapeutic benefits by promoting behavioral and neurological recovery in animal models of hypoxic-ischemic brain injuries and stroke, reducing neuronal loss, and improving motor and cognitive functions without inducing teratomas or immunogenic responses.

Implementation Method 1

multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) that can differentiate into multiple embryonic lineages

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCell differentiation:

Data Source

PatentUS10117900B2MAPC treatment of brain injuries and diseases

Publication Date: 2018.11.06 AUGUSTA UNIV RES INST INC

AI summary

The invention relates to the treatment of various injuries, disorders, dysfunctions, diseases, and the like of the brain with MAPCs, particularly in some aspects, to the treatment of the same resulting from hypoxia, including that caused by systemic hypoxia and that caused by insufficient blood supply. In some further particulars the invention relates, for example, to the treatment of hypoxic ischemic brain injury with MAPCs, in children for example, and to the treatment of cortical infarcts and stroke with MAPCs in adults, for example.