New Developments in Bone Regenerative Therapy

Features

Octacalcium phosphate/collagen composites (OCP/Col: BonarcⓇ), a bone regenerative material commercialized in 2019, outperforms the bone regeneration of existing bone substitutes and is cost-effective and easy to use. Recently, we have demonstrated that the addition of teriparatide (TPTD: a parathyroid hormone for the treatment of osteoporosis) to OCP/Col, or improvements in the manufacturing process of OCP/Col, would expand their use for intractable bone defects and bone augmentation, which is difficult to treat.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

As a medical devise of bone regenerative material, expansion of application in various bone defect (orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, etc.) and overseas expansion would be expected. Furthermore, as a combination product based on OCP/Col would provide a therapeutic alternative for difficult bone defects or urgent surgery.

New High-Throughput, High Resolution DNA Methylation Analysis Method, PCR-Luminex for the Diagnosis of Genomic Imprinting Disorders in ART Babies

Features

The parent-of–origin specific expression of the imprinted genes relies on DNA methylation acquired during gametogenesis. Recent studies indicate the possibility of excess imprinting disease occurrence in babies conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART). PCR-Luminex method is powerful tool for the methylation analyses, suitable for the use at the clinical diagnosis level because of taking much time and multistep procedures.

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

We have developed a new high-throughput, high resolution DNA methylation analysis method. PCT international patent was performed.

Noninvasive Ultrasonic Measurement of Dynamic Properties of Heart and Arteries

Features

Complexity of the cardiac contraction sequence is still not fully understood because the dynamic mechanical excitation process, which directly correlates with contraction, cannot be accurately measured by CT, MRI, SPECT, or conventional ultrasound. By developing a noninvasive novel imaging modality with high temporal and spatial resolutions (US patent 5840028), we have detected the minute mechanical response (velocity component) to the propagation of the action potential in the human heart or to detect the propagation of the vibrations along the heart wall caused by the valve closure (Fig. 2).
By applying the same procedure to the human arteries, the regional change in wall thickness caused during one cardiac cycle can be measured with high spatial resolution (Fig. 1). From the measurement, the regional elasticity of tissue surrounding atherosclerotic plaque can be determined. By comparing the pathological findings with the distribution of elasticity, elasticity of lipid and that of fibrous tissue were determined. Thus, each point inside the plaque is classified into lipid or fibrous tissue using transcutaneous ultrasound (Fig. 3).

Targeted Application(s)/Industry

This novel method offers potential as a diagnostic technique for detection of plaque vulnerability with high spatial resolution.
We are prepared to provide academic consultations to companies interested in our research.

Novel high-throughput screening systems for new antibiotics targeting bacterial virulence factors

Features

Chemotherapy toward bacterial infection, which dates back to the discovery of penicillin, opened up the golden era of antibiotics. Thereafter, various clinically important antibiotics were introduced into the clinic, and hence serious bacterial infectious diseases were eradicated. However, this ephemeral hope has been disappearing due to the emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogens toward every new antibiotics launched into the clinic, such as multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). To combat these life-threatening pathogens, there is a pressing need to develop new antibiotics. However, new antibiotics discovered in the future will be nullified by development of resistance to these antibiotics, since their targets are essential for bacterial survival. From this aspect in which inhibitors of the essential functions inevitably select resistant mutants, bacterial virulence could be a fascinating target for developing new antibiotics, because virulence attenuators are thought to be less likely to generate resistance. We focus on a novel protein translocation system, Tat, since this system appears to be involved in several aspects of bacterial virulence and is not present in mammalian cells, and iron-metabolism-associated system as novel targets for development of their inhibitors. We hope to conduct collaborative research with a willing company for a practical application of this technology in industry.