John Hopton for redOrbit.com – @Johnfinitum
You know how we used to just have bandages? Well soon we could have bandages containing “nanoneedles” which transmit genetic information to damaged parts of the body.
Oh, and these nanoneedles help the body to heal at its most fundamental genetic level, apparently with no side-effects. We’ve come a long way from head-drilling and leeches.
Weekly staff meetings at redOrbit.com.
Harnessing the power of nucleic acids
According to a statement from Imperial College London, whose researchers were involved in testing the method, the nanoneedles work by delivering nucleic acids to an area that requires treatment. Nucleic acids are the building blocks of all living organisms and they encode, transmit and express genetic information. DNA is one type of nucleic acid.
Tests on mice and human cells have proved very positive, and there is optimism that the method could enable transplanted organs to take successfully and help heal severe burns, as well as repairing damaged organs.
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Researchers from Imperial College and Houston Methodist Research Institute in the US developed nanoneedles made from biodegradable silicon, meaning that they can be left in the body without leaving any toxins behind. The silicon degrades in about two days, leaving only a negligible amount of a harmless substance called orthosilicic acid.
The team used prototype nanoneedles to deliver the nucleic acids DNA and siRNA into human cells. They also delivered nucleic acids into the back muscles of mice, and observed a six-fold increase in the formation of new blood vessels in back muscles over seven days. Blood vessels continued to form over a 14-day period. The researchers say that the technique did not cause inflammation or other harmful side effects.
A “quantum leap” in technology
“This is a quantum leap compared to existing technologies for the delivery of genetic material to cells and tissues,” said Ennio Tasciotti, Co-Chair at the Department of Nanomedicine at Houston Methodist Research Institute and co-corresponding author of the paper. “By gaining direct access to the cytoplasm of the cell we have achieved genetic reprogramming at an incredible high efficiency. This will let us personalize treatments for each patient, giving us endless possibilities in sensing, diagnosis and therapy. And all of this thanks to tiny structures that are up to 1,000 times smaller than a human hair.”
With typically British reserve, Professor Molly Stevens, co-corresponding author from the Departments of Materials and of Bioengineering at Imperial College London, was more cautious. She said: “It is still very early days in our research, but we are pleased that the nanoneedles have been successful in this trial in mice. There are a number of hurdles to overcome and we haven’t yet trialed the nanoneedles in humans, but we think they have enormous potential for helping the body to repair itself.”
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Dr. Ciro Chiappini, first author of the study from the Department of Materials, added: “If we can harness the power of nucleic acids and prompt them to carry out specific tasks, it will give us a way to regenerate lost function. Perhaps in the future it may be possible for doctors to apply flexible bandages to severely burnt skin to reprogram the cells to heal that injury with functional tissue instead of forming a scar. Alternatively, we may see surgeons first applying the nanoneedle bandages inside the affected region to promote the healthy integration of these new organs and implants in the body. We are a long way off, but our initial trials seem very promising.”
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