A new device, a chip essentially the size of a fingernail, can repair damaged organs in seconds, heralding a major development in medicine science.
It was developed in University of Ohio, bears the name Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT) or in free Greek translation micro-tissue transplantation, and uses a small chip of silicone the size of a coin that "injects" genetic code into skin cells, promoting conversion them 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 (no surgery or micro-surgery) – the genetic code is imparted to the device with a small electrical charge barely perceptible to the patient – and the procedure can be performed without access in a laboratory or hospital. This means it will have a significant impact on the lives of those dealing with medical emergencies where time is of the essence, such as car accident victims and soldiers wounded in combat. It is awaiting approval from the US FDA, but researchers expect human trials to begin within the year.
