Prof Cameron and Best's group in collaboration with Dr Ghevaert have published a paper in Biomaterials showing platelet production from in vitro derived megakaryocytes. Platelet production has always been the bottle neck in the venture to produce platelets for human use in the laboratory. This paper illustrates a very important step to make this a reality and illustrates a brilliant collaboration across disciplines and groups who are part of the BHF Oxbridge Centre of Regenerative Medicine.
The researchers cultured megakaryocytes from induced stem cells on a specialised growth support within a flow chamber that mimics features of the bone marrow. The system is able to produce an out flow of platelets that can take part in clotting. It is hoped that the system will aid in mass production of in vitro platelets and modified platelets as responsive drug delivery devices. The full paper can be found here.
See also
Shepherd et al, Structurally graduated collagen scaffolds applied to the ex vivo generation of platelets from human pluripotent stem cell-derived megakaryocytes: Enhancing production and purity. Biomaterials. 2018.
Moreau et al, Large-scale production of megakaryocytes from human pluripotent stem cells by chemically defined forward programming. Nat Comms. 2016.