In Sweden, a research team at Malmö University’s Research Center for Biofilms and Biointerfaces developed a way to control cell movements in contact with biomaterials. They were able to imitate nature’s dynamics when cells get stuck onto surfaces and were able to both bind and release the cells through molecular control. This new technology could be used in the future to help repair damaged tissues, stem cell based medicine and also to capture circulating tumor cells in the body.
In the next research phase, they plan on investigating the possibility of creating similar reversible movements and short-chain DNA chains. The project, called MIP4CELL, is funded by EU-based Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). “There are currently no effective methods for controlling cell and tissue culture. This is a unique and mild method that can be of great importance to regenerative and stem cell medicine in the future,” said Börje Sellergren, the lead Professor and scientist on the project, in a press release.