Bio-Engineering Functional, Implantable Human Dopaminergic Networks to Treat Parkinson’s Disease

We have previously developed omentum-derived hydrogel matrices that can provide such supportive environments, showing that they are biocompatible, support cell attachment, interactions, proliferation, and differentiation11,25,26.

We further demonstrated the production of various cellular implants (including dopaminergic) using the omentum hydrogel, while conceptually both the cells and the scaffold are derived from the patient, therefore eliciting reduced immune response 11,25,27.

Based on this technology we have recently engineered motor neuron implants25, which are now on the path to clinical trials in paralyzed patients (matricelf.com).

Using the same approach, we suggest engineering dopaminergic, injectable tissue grafts by differentiating human iPSCs into DNs within the omentum hydrogel (Fig.1). The ultimate goal of this proposal is to create functional dopaminergic implants for treating PD.