geneX combined with Mesenchymal stem cells for treating fracture

Sep 7 2009

Professor James B. Richardson of the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, UK has been carrying out pioneering work combining geneX with selected and culture expanded Mesenchymal stem cells to treat fracture non-unions.

The stem cells are collected in a sample of bone marrow, then purified and cultured expanded at the Oscell GMP laboratory (www.oscell.enta.net/stem-cells.html). 5 to 10 million stems cells are then combined with geneX and implanted around the fracture site. As a result of these procedures, patients facing a life of disability are finding their injuries healing and can return to a normal active life.

Oscell is an NHS laboratory at the RJAH NHS Trust, Oswestry, working above GMP standards. Oscell has 10 years of experience in providing Chondrocytes and Mesenchymal stem cells for fractures that are delayed in union. The Oscell protocol for MSC production includes parameters for patient selection, supervised stem cell harvest, MSC separation, culture and provision to theatre staff, together with serum and conditioned medium. All patients are part of a clinical trial with long term follow up data held independently by the Oswestry Outcome Centre.

geneX is a synthetic bone graft material with a unique bi-phasic composition manufactured through a proprietary process that confers the product with a reproducible negative surface charge. This property stimulates bone cell activity, accelerating bone formation and fusion by harnessing key proteins and directing cell adhesion and proliferation for rapid osteogenesis. geneX is fully resorbable and is completely replaced by bone. geneX overcomes the surgeons reliance on donor tissue presenting both a cost saving and a reduction in the risks associated with its use.

Commenting on geneX, Professor James B. Richardson said “One of the clever things with geneX is the negative surface charge. This demonstrates an improved affinity for the kind of proteins that cells produce to make fractures heal.”

“A negative surface charge is the same method that we use in the laboratory to get hold of the cells that are going to form bone. The negative surface charge of the bone graft helps to keep the stem cells at the fracture site. Also the patients’ own naturally occurring local cells will be happy to move towards the negative surface. It is only these cells that make bone so logically this is the most important step in getting fractures to heal.”