Protocols and Reports
Document Type
Review
Date of this Version
9-16-2021
Facility
Quattrone Nanofabrication Facility
Abstract
Senescence, from the shortening of telomeres, accumulation of mutations, epigenetic hypomethylation, and other causes, begins an eventual cycle of decline in every patient. Stem cells disappear as a function of age, which in turn impairs cellular replication. Moreover, when fully differentiated cells are induced back into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), they not only revert to a state of pre-differentiation, but also to a younger cellular age. Their aging clocks turn back: their telomeres become longer and DNA methylation reverts back to an earlier age. It should therefore be possible to use iPSCs to replace the missing stem cells from aged organs and tissues and to replace existing, older tissue with younger cells. In order to accomplish this, this paper will also explore new nanotechnological mechanisms in generating patient-specific scaffolds, including two-photon polymerization, a fabrication process that uses a specifically focused, near-infrared laser to build three-dimensional scaffolds. This paper finally proposes a mechanism to apply iPSCs as preventative medicine, to replace aging organs before they fail and unwind the aging clock to lengthen healthspan.
Keywords
senescence, induced pluripotent stem cell, two-photon polymerization, aging, nanotechnology, scaffolds, tissue engineering, telomeres, transplant
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Date Posted: 16 September 2021
This document has been peer reviewed.