During the previous month, we had the privilege of hosting a seminar presented by Prof. Sarah Cartmell, who is the head of the Department of Materials at the School of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Science and Engineering and The Henry Royce Institute, at The University of Manchester. The seminar topic focused on the use of electrical stimulating regimes to affect stem cell proliferation and differentiation for the purposes of tissue engineering. 

Our researchers and students had a productive meeting with Prof. Cartmell and gained valuable insights from her latest findings and experiences. Her team has achieved significant accomplishments over the years, including the development of various bioreactors that can house developing tissue and control electrical stimuli using either capacitive or direct contact methods for in vitro cultures. These bioreactors have been instrumental in assessing the potential use of electrical stimuli for in vitro bone tissue engineering. They have also facilitated further study of the mechanisms by which primary human mesenchymal stem cells are altered in terms of cell proliferation and differentiation.

During the seminar, Prof. Cartmell presented a significant discovery regarding the role of the faradic byproduct of H2O2 near the cathode resulting from direct electrical stimulation. This finding highlights its importance in influencing primary mesenchymal stem cell proliferation. She discussed the impact of electrical stimulation on the morphology of primary cilia on these cells, as well as the effect of different electrical regimes on cell response.

Furthermore, Prof. Cartmell provided an introduction to a newly developed tendon repair product and the spin-off company that was established in 2021. She also provided some valuable advice based on her own career experiences and shared insights into the decisions she made along her professional journey.

Group photo: Prof. Woody CHAN, Prof. Elmer KER, Prof. Sarah CARTMELL, Prof. Anna BLOCKI, Prof. Michelle WANG, Prof. Wan CHAO (from left to right)

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