Written by Sophia Fox, Daron Assatoury, and Bilal HamidIf you haven’t heard of synthetic biology yet, you soon will. The field of synthetic biology is centered around genetically modifying organisms (plants, bacteria, fungi, etc) to perform new abilities, such as producing proteins or biofuels. The applications are endless, especially within the realm of regenerative medicine. Taking the field by storm is revolutionary Israeli company CollPlant, which has successfully engineered tobacco plants to produce recombinant human collagen (rhCollagen).
Human collagen is a critical component of structural support in many organs and tissues, and the variant which CollPlant’s genetically modified tobacco plants produce is identical to humans’ type I collagen. rhCollagen is superior to collagen harvested from animals due to its ‘improved biofunctionality, high homogeneity, and reduced risk of immune response’, as CollPlant’s website describes. Animal-extracted collagen has reduced functionality since it contains partially denatured cell binding sites and is viewed as a foreign body by the immune system. rhCollagen avoids these problems and can be used for faster cell proliferation and cell repair for tissue healing. The primary use of rhCollagen is as scaffolding for tissue regeneration. This has applications in wound healing, 3D bioprinting structure for organs and tissues, and medical aesthetics. There are various mechanisms by which rhCollagen can provide this framework, including Collplant’s rhCollagen-based ‘BioInk’, which can be used for 3D bioprinting. It is important to note that rhCollagen does not heal in itself, but rather provides the framework for which other cells can more effectively and efficiently heal the tissues. Currently, biosynthetic collagen is already being used to accelerate the recovery period of individuals afflicted with persisting physical ailments, such as chronic “tennis elbow,” which has about a 1–3% prevalence rate in the mature population. By implementing rhCollagen into its serum, Vergenix enables the body to construct a scaffold for which to rebuild tissue and enhance clotting ability. After this scaffold is created and an extracellular matrix is established, the collagen degrades and exits the body over time. A study published by CollPlant involving adults with long-lasting lateral elbow pain has shown that the injection of Vergenix STR, a product of CollPlant’s synthesized rhCollagen, can reduce patient-reported pain incidence by 59% 6 months into the treatment through the enabling of quicker regeneration of bodily tissue. Furthermore, about 68% of patients had a statistically significant increase in grip strength at the same point in time. Ultrasound tests further concluded that the synthesized collagen had actively promoted recovery. The application of plant-based rhCollagen[1] is not limited to wounds and bruises: the company is planning to branch out into the cosmetic field,[2] specifically dermal fillers and breast implants. By utilizing plant-synthesized human collagen, CollPlant can usher in a new, more natural wave of plastic surgery that may prove to be both safer and more effective. In addition, post surgical costs could be greatly reduced due to decreased chances of rejection and immune response. CollPlant is the single provider for Type 1 human collagen through recombinant technology. In this position, changes in investment[3] relevant to CollPlant are representative of the market as a whole. With both life-saving and aesthetic applications, the development of synthetic collagen provides a significant alternative to many current methods. In deviating from animal procurement, CollPlant opens up a wider market of consumers who wish to undergo enhancements, but who are weary of the health risks or the idea that collagen is normally derived from animals. Supported by recent statistics, there exists a growing belief in the viability and profitability of providing alternative collagen solutions in today’s market. The recent acquisition of $5.5 million in financing by CollPlant supports the development of new R&D facilities as well as a production facility equipped to handle the greater demand of CollPlant’s product from bioprinting. In addition to the expansion of their facilities, the Israel-based company secured over 80% of recent financing from U.S. based investors with significant experience in the medical field and bioprinting fields. This displays an important increase in investor confidence in the ability of CollPlant to play an important role in the US medical technology market as well as expands its ability to connect with US firms and push the development of recombinant collagen production. Through recent agreements with United Therapeutics, CollPlant is already displaying growth into the market as they codevelop scaffolding using their recombinant collagen in order to develop synthetic lungs. Successful R&D in this field opens up a huge market for recombinant collagen by breaking down one of the key barriers to 3D organ printing and synthetic organ manufacturing. Since recombinant collagen does not elicit an immune response, these synthetic organs can dramatically decrease the cost of post-transplant care by virtually eliminating the need for immunosuppressants. As the technology improves, a future where wounds are a matter of administering a patch of synthetic collagen may be nearer than we imagine. The results are quite promising: all that’s left to do is make sure a sizeable dose won’t break the bank, and we will be one step closer towards a wear-and-tear free society. https://medium.com/@bruinmedicalentrepreneurs/the-tobacco-plant-that-could-cure-your-wounds-new-applications-of-synthetic-biology-c8025cccb7e7
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