Researchers from McGill University (and the RI-MUHC) and Kyoto University have developed an innovative injectable gel that could improve stem cell therapies for swallowing disorders, a condition affecting nearly eight per cent of the global population.
In a recent preclinical study published in Biomaterials, the gel increased stem cell survival more than fivefold compared to conventional approaches. By acting as a biodegradable scaffold, the gel creates space within cell clusters, allowing oxygen and nutrients to circulate more effectively and enhancing their ability to repair damaged muscle tissue.
In animal models, a single injection improved stem cell retention and led to measurable gains in swallowing muscle function. This minimally invasive approach could offer a new therapeutic option for patients who currently rely on rehabilitation or surgery.
The technology has already undergone early-phase clinical testing in Japan in a different therapeutic context. Researchers are now exploring its long-term potential and applications in other conditions, including vocal cord injury, age-related muscle loss, and muscular dystrophy.
Dr. Nicole Li-Jessen is an member of the RI-MUHC RESP Program.
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New injectable gel could help repair damaged swallowing muscles. Biomaterial increases stem cell survival fivefold in preclinical tests, paving the way for advances in regenerative treatments. McGill News. March 17, 2026.
New injectable gel could help repair damaged swallowing muscles. Researchers from The Institute, McGill University and Kyoto University team up to develop biomaterial that increases stem cell survival fivefold in preclinical tests, paving the way for advances in regenerative treatments. The Institute News. April 28, 2026
Trouble swallowing? A nanogel tweak may keep therapeutic stem cells alive longer. Phys.org. Edited by Gaby Clark, reviewed by Robert Egan. March 11, 2026.
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Click-crosslinked nanogels integrated into 3D stem cell spheroids enhance regenerative function for swallowing muscle repair. Okuyama H, Brown M, Munipalle M, Nejati S, Huo R, Sakata H, Mizuta R, Sasaki Y, Akiyoshi K, Ohnishi H, Kishimoto Y, Omori K, Li J, Mongeau L, Li-Jessen NYK. Biomaterials. 2026 Jul;330:124044. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2026.124044. Epub 2026 Feb 3.