Rainbow Biosciences explores NASA technology to produce adult stem cells for medical research

Sep 19 2012

Rainbow Biosciences, the biotech subsidiary of Rainbow Coral Corp. (OTCBB: RBCC), announced today that it is exploring the possible use of micro-gravity technology developed by NASA to produce three-dimensional adult stem cells for medical research purposes.

RBCC announced on Monday that it will expand its focus on technology capable of culturing 3D cell clusters to include adult stem cells. The company is currently investigating the potential for a bioreactor developed for the space program to grow tissues from adult stem cells for possible study and even transplantation. Stem cells grown using the NASA technology multiply rapidly and remain three dimensional, unlike the two-dimensional cells grown in Petri dishes.

This characteristic makes possible the production of healthy populations of cheaper and higher-quality stem cells suitable for all manner of research.

"This technology has the potential to be one of NASA's greatest gifts to medical sciences," said RBCC CEO Patrick Brown. "The ability to cultivate adult stem cells in a micro-gravity environment here on earth could prove to be a great leap forward in the field of biotechnology, and we're very interested in discussing how we might be able to assist in the development and marketing of new therapies and other uses for this device."