Pluristem Innovations is a recent Biotech startup that uses proprietary protein delivery technology for development of stem cell-based therapeutics

Stem cells because of their pleuripotent potential have major therapeutic implications for tissue repair and treatment of several degenerative diseases. However, there are three major requirements for the success of stem cell-based therapeutics. These include methods for rapid expansion of stem cells in vitro using methods that sustain their plasticity, methods for tracking stem cells following in vivo transplantation and methodology to mediate differentiation of stem cells into specific cell types. 

PSI has unique technology that enables efficient intracellular and intranuclear delivery of small peptides or large proteins into stem cells. Since the methodology involves only non-covalent complexing of the protein with the Profect reagent the protein to be delivered retains its functional integrity. Also the protein being delivered typically degrades after 3-4 days thus avoiding any permanent modification of the stem cells. The company plans to focus on the following three areas.

In-vitro expansion of human cord stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells:

Human cord stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells are more attractive than embryonic stem cells for stem cell-based therapeutics because of their plasticity.  However, they are available only in very limited amounts from cord blood or bone marrow.  PSI proposes to use cutting edge protein delivery technology to stimulate in vitro growth and expansion of stem cells in a manner that enables them to retain their plasticity and undifferentiated phenotype. The availability of larger amounts of stem cell populations originating from cord blood or bone marrow would be invaluable in increasing usage of these cell types for stem cell based therapeutics not only by providing stem cells populations with greater plasticity but  also by circumventing ethical issues relating to the use of embryonic stem cells

Tracking of stem cells in vivo following transplantation using innovative luminescence technology:

PSI has unique technology for efficient delivery of several novel proprietary luciferases into stem cells. Gaussia luciferase a novel luciferase that is 1000 times brighter than existing firefly and renilla luciferases will be delivered intracellularly into stem cells using Profect. The stem cells can be visualized in vitro or in vivo by exposure to coelenterazine the substrate for Gaussia luciferase using appropriate imaging techniques.  This enables visualization of the transplanted stem cells in vivo following injection of the appropriate luciferin substrate using suitable imaging technology.  Since the delivered luciferase persists in the transplanted cells for at least 3 days it enables one to follow colonization and repopulation of the transplanted stem cells using non-invasive techniques without any permanent alteration of the transplanted stem cells. 

Attempts at differentiating cord stem cells or hematopoietic stem cells into specific phenotypes using controlled and targeted protein delivery to mediate cell differentiation:

PSI plans to target differentiation of stem cells into the pancreatic B cell phenotype by controlled intracellular/intranuclear delivery of specific peptides and transcription factors that are crucial for differentiation into the pancreatic B cell phenotype. This approach if successful could have implications in the treatment of NIDDM. 

The Company is discovering and developing cell-based therapeutics that utilizes adult stem cells expanded in vitro by delivery of different proteins/peptides mimicking different naturally occurring physiological environments. Pluristem expects its first products to be cell grafts that will provide an efficient and superior alternative to the standard procedure of bone marrow transplantation. Its first adult stem cell product is intended to target a critical global shortfall of matched tissue for bone marrow transplantation since bone marrow transplantation is often the only cure for patients suffering from leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and many other hematological diseases. The Company has made a strategic decision to work only with adult stem cells since the practical use of embryonic stem cells is severely restricted by various religious, ethical and legal considerations.