Stem Cell Sorting to Restore Regenerative Function

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aging is associated with a decline in regenerative capacity due to the loss of functional stem cells, leading to impaired tissue regeneration and increased morbidity, with existing studies failing to determine whether the decline in stem cell number or dysfunction is causative or merely a consequence of aging.

Innovation Solution

Administering isolated autologous or allogeneic stem/progenitor cells that secrete regulatory factors to restore or rejuvenate endogenous stem cell function, potentially combined with mTOR inhibitors, to promote tissue regeneration and extend lifespan.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If stem cell number is maintained through aging, then stem cell population is preserved, but stem cell function becomes impaired

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestem cell numberVSAvoidstem cell function

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the functional impairment from the stem cell population by selectively removing dysfunctional stem cells through immunomagnetic sorting based on CD34 expression levels. This separates the quantity aspect (maintaining stem cell numbers) from the quality aspect (removing dysfunctional cells), resolving the contradiction between preserving stem cell population and maintaining stem cell function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating between subpopulations of stem cells based on their functional state. By identifying and isolating the dysfunctional subpopulation (CD34dim cells) from the functional subpopulation (CD34bright cells), the treatment targets only the impaired cells while preserving healthy stem cells, thus maintaining both quantity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If stem cell function is enhanced to improve regeneration, then tissue regenerative capacity increases, but the complexity of treatment approaches increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue regenerative capacityVSAvoidtreatment approach complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by using a single immunomagnetic sorting approach that can be applied across multiple tissue types and stem cell populations. The CD34-based sorting methodology serves as a universal tool for isolating dysfunctional stem cells regardless of the specific tissue context, simplifying the treatment approach while maintaining high regenerative capacity across different applications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10293001B2Compositions and methods for restoring or rejuvenating stem/progenitor cell function

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 UNIV OF PITTSBURGH OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYST OF HIGHER EDUCATION

AI summary

This invention relates to the use of autologous stem/progenitor cells to restore or rejuvenate adult stem cell function in a mammal, wherein the restoration or rejuvenating extends lifespan and/or improves health of the mammal. In addition, the invention also relates to compositions containing one or more regulatory factors secreted or released from isolated mammalian stem/progenitor cells and use of such compositions to extend lifespan and/or improve health of a mammal. Also provided are methods of treating, delaying, preventing or reversing progeria or related syndromes in a mammal using isolated autologous or allogeneic stem/progenitor cells and/or regulatory factors secreted or released therefrom.