By Dave Andrusko

(L-R): Dr Anna David, Dr Adam Squires and Dr Che Connon who are working to create stem cell patches to prevent premature birth
Researchers from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom have developed an artificial fetal membrane by using stem cells from placentas that potentially could reduce the number of premature births significantly. This “repair patch” does not come from embryonic stem cells but stem cells from the placenta–“afterbirth.”
The findings were published in the journal “Tissue Engineering.”
According to The Daily Mail, up to 40% of premature births are associated with a rupture of the membrane that surrounds the unborn child.
Dr Anna David, a consultant obstetrician and expert in premature birth at University College of London Hospitals Trust, told the Daily Mail, “If we could use these membranes then we would be able to preserve pregnancies and save women from losing their babies.”
Dr. Che Connon, the lead researcher, believes human trials will start in two years and the treatment could be introduced by 2016.
“From just one donation of cells after a birth we will be able to make thousands of patches to help preserve a pregnancy,” Connon told the Daily Mail newspaper. “We were able to manipulate the cells to make a material that is almost the same as a woman’s natural membrane.” He added, “It is tough and we are confident it would do the job and hold a pregnancy in place.”
Once a mother’s membranes have broken, it is very difficult to save the baby. “Previous attempts to deal with the problem using latex seals or blood platelets have failed,” the Daily Mail reported. “The stem cell patch is designed to be placed over the rupture using keyhole surgery.”
Estimates are that about 54,000 babies are born prematurely every year in the United Kingdom. In the much more populous United States there are an estimated four million premature babies born annually.
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