A new device, a chip in the size of a nail, can repair broken instruments in seconds, announcing an important development in medical science.
Developed at the University of Ohio, it is named Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT) or in free Greek translation micro-transplant web, and uses a small chip silicone-sized coins that "inject" genetic code into skin cells, promoting their conversion from one species to another.
During the initial testing phase, researchers were able to reprogram in a mouse that had a badly injured leg without blood flow, skin cells into vascular cells. Within one week, active blood vessels appeared around the foot and within two weeks the foot was completely restored. Also a mice that had suffered a stroke was restored, suggesting this technology can be applied to organs and nerve cells as well as tissues. It is the first time cells are reprogrammed into a living organism.
The technology weighs less than 100 grams and has a long life. It is completely non-invasive (without surgery or microsurgery) - the genetic code is delivered to the device with a small electrical charge that is barely perceptible to the patient - and the procedure can be performed without access to a laboratory or hospital. This means that it will have a significant impact on the lives of those involved in medical emergencies where time is of the essence, such as car accident victims and soldiers injured in battle. It is awaiting approval from the US FDA, but researchers expect human trials to begin within a year.
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