VitroGro now in powdered form

Protein chemists at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have produced a new freeze-dried form of Brisbane-based Tissue Therapies' (ASX:TIS) wound-healing technology VitroGro.

The VitroGro platform technology, developed by tissue engineering experts at QUT, delivers different formulations of cellular growth factors to cells with the aim of treating conditions such as burns, wounds and diabetic ulcers. The technology can also be used in live skin cell testing systems for R&D in vaccine production or in the cosmetic industry.

"Depending on the individual formulation, three or four separate sterile tubes of the different [VitroGro] components would have to be mixed at the time of use by the scientists or the clinician," said Tissue Therapies managing director Dr Steven Mercer.

While biologically effective, transportation was expensive because the tubes needed to be shipped with dry ice.

"What the scientists have done is convert that whole practical set of issues into one small sterile tube with some dry powder in the bottom which can be shipped at room temperature," said Mercer. "It's no longer a dangerous good, it doesn't need dry ice, it's stable and is biologically active."

At the point-of-use, the freeze-dried (or lyophilised) VitroGro needs only to have water or a similar solution added.

"The cost avoidance for Tissue Therapies is very substantial over the next few years," said Mercer.

Tissue Therapies second pre-clinical trial for the treatment of burns with VitroGro is scheduled to finish at the end of this year, with results expected early next year. A randomised clinical trial using VitroGro for the treatment of burns in adults and children is planned for next year, said Mercer.

Tissue Therapies will be shipping samples of its new VitroGro product to international companies for their evaluation and collaboration in different R&D and commercialisation projects within the next month, said Mercer.