Use of a Blast Wave Represents a Novel Therapy for Enhancing the Osteogenic Capacity of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Description

In this presentation, Major Sarah Stewart, a military trainee based in London, discusses her recently completed PhD at Imperial College. She focuses on the evolution of warfare, particularly regarding the harmful effects of blast waves produced during conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sarah outlines the medical implications of these blasts, specifically their contribution to severe fractures characterized by high-energy consequences, leading to risks of nonunion and the proliferation of heterotopic ossification (H0).



The core of her research investigates whether these blast waves possess osteogenic properties that can be harnessed therapeutically to aid in fracture healing. She explains her experimental design, which involved exposing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to varied blast wave pressures to assess their potential transformation into osteoblasts, the cells responsible for bone formation. Sarah meticulously details her methodology, including the creation of a shockwave tube and the resulting gene expression analysis that suggests that certain blast pressures do upregulate osteogenic genes.



She shares her promising findings, indicating that exposure to specific blast pressures enhances the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts and stimulates mineralization—crucial for effective bone healing. The presentation concludes by offering future clinical applications, such as implanting blast-prepared MSCs during surgical procedures to improve healing outcomes in high-energy fractures, and notes the exciting potential for further research in regenerative medicine.

Specialties