US researchers have created a "miniature stem cell lab,"useful for various purposes, including cell therapy, biological applications,design of certain types of new materials and electronic devices.

A team from Northwestern University's Institute forBioNanotechnology in Medicine in Illinois, USA uses a polymer and a smallmolecule which instantly assemble to form a flexible, yet strong sac. This canbe used as a "miniature laboratory”, for growth of human stem cells insideit.

 According to researchers, the sac may hep in protecting thestem cells from the immune system till they reach their intended locationinside the body.  The sace would thenbiodegrade. The stem cells would then get released to start their work. Theteam has demonstrated in tests that stem cells of humans will grow inside“miniature labs". These sacs can survive for weeks while in culture. Evenlarge proteins can travel freely within the sac membranes.

 Professor Samuel I Stupp, research leader, said that the teamused one molecule of peptide amphiphile and other of biopolymer hyaluronicacid. When brought into contact, in the presence of water, the two moleculesinstantly formed a solid membrane. The team claims that their method has theability to make thin films of customized shapes and sizes. It may also help indesigning of electronics devices through self assembly like solar cells anddesigning new materials.

 Stupp had developed the synthetic molecules of peptideamphiphile seven years ago, while working on regenerative medicine, whereas,biopolymer hyaluronic acid is readily available at joints and cartilage inside thehuman body.