Regenerative Medicine 101

Veterinary medicine is quickly advancing, and many therapies that once seemed like wishful thinking, or even as far-fetched as science fiction, have begun to become a reality. The topic of regenerative medicine is one that has become more mainstream lately with advances in treatments like exosome-based therapies, stem cell, and platelet-rich plasma—just to name a few. However, the world of regenerative therapies is very in-depth, not only in the types of treatments, but also in the situations these therapies are used and the conditions that data and literature has shown them to aid in healing. In today’s post, we’ll break down some of the basics.

“Regenerative medicine” is an umbrella term that refers to a variety of therapies that promote the body’s ability to self-heal. While science has only begun to scratch the surface of all the ways these treatments can be used, there are several main types of regenerative therapies in use today: exosome-based, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stem cell therapy, and autologous conditioned serum (ACS).

Exosome Therapy– Exosome therapy contains an array of components like extracellular vesicles, growth factors, exosomes, cytokines, microRNA, and an extracellular matrix that literature and data have shown to be effective not only in minimizing inflammation, but also promoting healthy tissue healing. Hilltop Bio’s exosome therapies have many benefits including being an off-the-shelf, room temperature option so that it’s ready to use whenever it’s needed, as well as having numerous use applications like healing wounds and restoring soft tissue and joint health.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)- PRP works differently from amnion and uses the horse’s blood which is processed by a specialized system that concentrates the platelets found in the blood. The resulting serum is then injected back into the horse at the needed site, where the growth factors released from the concentrated platelets promote tissue healing.

Autologous Conditioned Serum (ACS)- Similar to PRP, ACS is produced by collecting a blood sampling. However, instead of using a system to concentrate platelets, the blood sample is incubated in a system that produces the growth of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) along with other components that have anti-inflammatory qualities. Then, like PRP, this serum is injected back into the horse at the necessary site.

Stem Cell Therapy (SCT)- The science behind stem cell therapies have been in mainstream news for well over a decade, and it’s probably one of the most well-known forms of regenerative therapies currently in use. These specific cells that have a regenerative ability are found in certain tissues and can grow various types of cells. Like the previous mentioned forms of regenerative therapies, literature has shown these cells have impressive abilities in reducing inflammation and promoting healing.

Just as there is an entire menu of regenerative medicine therapies on the market, there are an array of applications that they can be used for. While conditions like osteoarthritis and wound healing may be two that immediately come to mind, studies have shown promising results for other conditions like tendon/ligament injury, fasciopathy, eye wounds, and potentially, even fractures. With certain injuries and conditions, regenerative therapies can be used in a combination of other rehabilitative therapies such as shockwave, ultrasound, and pool therapies.

Though it may seem like a lot to process, the world of regenerative medicine is only getting started, and science hasn’t even begun to uncover all the potential applications and use cases that could benefit from these therapies. Hilltop Bio is excited to be at the forefront of exosome-based regenerative therapies and would be happy to discuss how this product could benefit your clients and practice in more depth. To speak with a member of our team, visit hilltopbio.com/contact-us/.