E-Selectin Ligand-Engineered Neural Stem Cells for Vascular Homing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cell-based therapeutic delivery methods, such as direct injection, are inefficient and impractical for widespread conditions like multiple sclerosis due to tissue damage risks, anatomical limitations, and labor-intensive requirements, necessitating a vascular route for systemic disorders.

Innovation Solution

Intravenous administration of neural stem cells (NSCs) engineered to express Hematopoietic Cell E-/L-selectin Ligand (HCELL) coinciding with E-selectin expression on inflamed or damaged tissue to enhance cell migration and colonization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If direct injection is used to deliver cells to affected tissue, then cell delivery efficiency is improved, but tissue damage and procedural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell delivery efficiencyVSAvoidtissue damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses E-selectin ligands as molecular intermediaries that mediate the interaction between administered cells and the vascular endothelium at target sites. These ligands enable cells to home to inflamed or damaged tissues through the bloodstream without requiring direct injection, thereby avoiding tissue damage while maintaining delivery efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical injection system with a biochemical homing system. Instead of using physical needles and direct mechanical delivery, the invention uses molecular recognition between E-selectin ligands on cells and E-selectin on endothelial cells to guide cells to target tissues through the circulatory system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If direct injection is used for cell administration, then localized cell delivery is improved, but anatomical accessibility and operational ease deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocalized cell deliveryVSAvoidanatomical accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

E-selectin ligands serve as molecular intermediaries that enable cells to navigate the circulatory system and selectively home to target tissues based on molecular recognition, bypassing anatomical barriers and making treatment accessible regardless of tissue location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The vascular homing system provides universal applicability across multiple anatomical sites and disease conditions. The same E-selectin ligand-modified cells can be administered systemically to treat various conditions including multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and other inflammatory or damaged tissues without requiring site-specific injection procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If vascular route is used for systemic cell administration, then ease of administration is improved, but cell delivery precision to target tissue deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of administrationVSAvoidcell delivery precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent imparts local quality to the cell population by equipping them with E-selectin ligands that specifically recognize E-selectin on endothelial cells at inflamed or damaged sites. This creates a localized interaction at the target tissue level while maintaining systemic circulation, achieving both ease of administration and delivery precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the molecular parameters of the cell surface by introducing or upregulating E-selectin ligands. This parameter change enables the cells to selectively interact with E-selectin-expressing endothelium at target sites during systemic circulation, achieving precise localization without compromising ease of administration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enhances cell delivery and colonization in inflammatory and damaged tissues, promoting tissue repair and immunomodulation, effectively treating conditions like multiple sclerosis.

Implementation Method 1

neural stem cells (NSCs) engineered to express Hematopoietic Cell E-/L-selectin Ligand (HCELL) coinciding with E-selectin expression on inflamed or damaged tissue to enhance cell migration and colonization

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSelective adhesion: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP4012024B1Methods to improve cell therapy
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 THE BRIGHAM & WOMEN S HOSPITAL INC
  • EP4012024B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1D
  • EP4012024B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4012024B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

Methods of treatment are provided herein, including administration of a population cells modified to enforce expression of an E-selectin and/or an L-selectin ligand, the modified cell population having a cell viability of at least 70% after a treatment to enforce such expression.