Stem cells are like interchangeable parts that can be used to repair other cells, or even create replacement organs. While stem cell research and applications are still in their infancy, there are some realistic treatments that exist today and incorporate stem cells. In the future, we will see more applications but stem cell medicine is already here.
Drug testing
Differentiated cells, or stem cells that have been activated, can help simulate the human body’s reaction to certain medications. Because the conditions must be extremely precise, scientists have to precisely control how a cell develops. Current science falls short of these extremely high expectations, but testing has already begun using human pluripotent cells.
Regenerating Damaged Tissues
Scientists have discovered that when mice with damaged heart tissues show actual improvement when injected with stem cells. This suggests that it may be possible to direct stem cells directly into heart muscles or bone marrow, and actually heal our bodies from within. While not yet mainstream, there have been some exploratory tests where patients with cardiovascular diseases have been injected with stem cells. The results have been promising thus far.
Future
Stem cell applications are still very much a new field of research. In order for the medical science to become viable, stem cells must:
- Consistently differentiate into the proper cell
- Survive in the host after transplant
- Integrate successfully with surrounding tissues
- Avoid harming the host
Thus far, testing on these fronts is inconsistent. Much work is needed to improve the efficiency of our methods, but stem cell treatments are here and will only become more prolific.
Bio: Sasha Bakhru is an engineering science graduate who studies stem cells. Sasha Bakhru is currently developing a process to engineer tissues with stem cells.