All articles tagged with #tissue repair
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin discovered that applying electrical currents to macrophages can reprogram them to reduce inflammation and promote faster healing, offering a promising new approach for treating injuries and inflammatory diseases.
Researchers at Duke University and Harvard Medical School have developed a new method called "deep-penetrating acoustic volumetric printing" (DVAP) that uses ultrasound waves to 3D print inside the human body. By sending ultrasound waves at an injectable biocompatible ink, the ink can be hardened in place to create intricate biomedical structures. This new technique has the potential to repair bones and fix malfunctioning heart valves without the need for invasive open surgery. While more research is needed, the tests conducted so far have shown promising results.
Scientists have developed tiny self-assembling robots called Anthrobots, made from human tracheal cells, that can encourage neuron regrowth in damaged tissue. These biobots, ranging in size from a human hair to a pencil tip, assemble in clusters and have shown promising results in lab experiments. The exact mechanism behind their ability to stimulate neuron growth is still unknown. Researchers hope to further explore their potential in medical applications such as clearing plaque buildup, repairing spinal damage, and recognizing bacteria or cancer cells.
Researchers have developed an injectable tissue prosthesis composed of a biocompatible hydrogel with bidirectional electrical conduction, allowing for closed-loop robot-assisted rehabilitation. The prosthesis, which can be injected onto rough, narrow, or deep tissue surfaces, has been successfully demonstrated in rats with severe muscle injury, leading to accelerated tissue repair. This breakthrough could have significant implications for the field of rehabilitation and tissue repair.
A recent study by researchers at Stanford Medicine has found that the well-known tumor suppressor protein, p53, may have a primary role in promoting tissue repair rather than solely preventing cancer. The study, conducted in laboratory mice, discovered that p53 facilitates the transition of lung cells during tissue damage repair. Without p53's involvement, the transitioning cells become unstable and can contribute to the development of cancer. This unexpected finding suggests that p53's role in tumor suppression may be secondary to its fundamental function in tissue repair. The researchers hope to explore the potential therapeutic implications of this discovery for lung cancer treatment.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales have developed a flexible 3D bioprinter, called F3DB, that can layer organic material directly onto organs or tissue. The printer has a soft robotic arm that can assemble biomaterials with living cells onto damaged internal organs or tissues. Its snake-like flexible body would enter the body through the mouth or anus, with a pilot/surgeon guiding it toward the injured area using hand gestures. The team hopes its multifunctional approach could someday be an all-in-one tool for minimally invasive operations.