Self Administering Blood Vessels

Scientists have created blood vessels that reverse anemia in mice. The cells work by secreting the drug on demand, directly into the blood stream. This technology could be potentially be used to release othe proteins such as factor VIII and factor IX for pateints suffering from a multitude of different ailments. The drug secreting vessels were created by isolating an endothelial colony-forming cells to produce EPO, mesenchymal stem cells were added, suspended in a gel, and injected into the mice. The cells spontaneously formed a network of blood vessels that eventually hooked up with the animals own vessels, releasing EPO into the bloodstream. Tests showed that the drug circulating through the bloodstream was effective in treating both radiation (cancer patients) and loss of kidney tissue types of anemia. The system also had an on off switch that only released the protein when the mice were given doxycycline, if they didn't receive it EPO was not released. The system works so good because blood vessels are the one system which we can graph and have almost complete control over. Tests are underway to determine if other drugs can be administered in this manner.