Zombie sea cucumbers and the future of tissue engineering
A young scarlet sea cucumber, about 5 millimeters long, uses its tentacles to feed. While sea cucumbers can naturally shed and regenerate these tentacles, researchers have also found that detached tentacle tissue can remain alive independently after being separated from the organism.
Sara Jobson/Mercier Lab/MUN
By Susanna Camp
It’s pretty cool, but not exactly news, that lizards can regrow their tails and starfish can regenerate arms. However, the lost or discarded body parts typically decay and die within a few days or weeks. Not so for those of at least one kind of sea cucumber. Researchers have found that detached tissue from these marine invertebrates can remain alive independently for years. Their findings could have a real impact on how we understand tissue culture, regeneration and aging in medical science. Saugat Bolakhe takes us beneath the surface for SN.
🧟♂️ The ‘zombie project’
The scientists behind the study playfully dubbed their research “our ‘zombie project'” after a weird turn of events. During a tank transfer, the researchers found that some of the creatures’ podia, small tubelike appendages the sea cucumbers use to move, had been left behind and were later found to still be sticking around. The scientists continued to study these disembodied parts, eventually experimenting with intentionally “excised podia explants” (read: they cut off some pieces to see what would happen) and found that in flowing seawater, they not only survived but also showed rapid changes in wound healing within the first week. The specimens survived beyond three years, continuing to maintain a similar shape and structure.
🦾 The future of active implants
Tenacious samples of cells that survive for years aren’t new in the lab world. Take one of the more famous examples — the HeLa cell line. Scientists have used these cells to make a vaccine for polio, recombinant proteins, and much more. But the cells come with ethical concerns. Doctors took HeLa cells without consent from Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman dying of cervical cancer. If follow up research pans out, new types of “immortal” cells obtained ethically could have a big impact on biomedical research and tissue engineering.
🏗️ The scaffold builders
While zombie body parts haven’t quite hit the market, several players are leading the charge in advanced collagen and scaffold engineering:
- CollPlant Biotechnologies (Nasdaq: CLGN): CollPlant uses proprietary plant-based platforms to produce recombinant human collagen. They are developing dermal fillers and breast implants, and are also investigating bio-inks for 3-D printing human tissues. They’ve raised over $82 million in funding.
- TELA Bio (Nasdaq: TELA): Focused on reinforced bioscaffolds for soft tissue repair, TELA Bio is currently scaling commercial operations with their line of reinforced tissue for repairing hernias and abdominal walls. They also produce a liquid adhesive designed to eliminate the need for tacks, sutures or staples to affix surgical mesh devices. They’ve raised over $349 million, including $13 million in post-IPO funding.
- Gel4Med is a venture-backed startup developed within Harvard Innovation Labs in Allston, Massachusetts. They focus on biomimetic materials for surgical interventions, with a proprietary mimic of the lattice that provides support to cells in prefilled syringes. While they are at an early stage, they have secured approximately $3 million in seed funding.
We’re glad our new favorite creature the sea cucumber is getting its moment in the spotlight.
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