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Silicon nanoneedles could lead to "super bandages" that help blood vessels grow and reprogram cells
Researchers at the Imperial College London and the Houston Methodist Research Institute have developed biodegradable, silicon "nanoneedles" that can deliver genetic material to stimulate the growth of blood vessels. They could perhaps even be used to reprogram living cells as needed in a safe, non-invasive manner.
Scientists have been looking for effective ways to stimulate angiogenesis, the body’s ability to grow new blood vessels, to help with organ transplants and medical conditions like myocardial ischemia. Past approaches have ranged from growing vessels in the lab for future transplant, to less invasiveinjections and bandages.
Dr. Ciro Chiappini and colleagues are one of many teams investigating the approach of directly delivering nucleic acids, the building blocks of all living organisms, to selected cells by injecting them through the cell’s membrane. The exciting aspect of this method is that it could be used not only for regrowing blood vessels (in itself a big achievement), but perhaps also to one day genetically reprogram cells to carry out specific functions.
While this approach isn't new, previous attempts were not able to do deliver genetic material efficiently, at scale, or even safely, because of the toxic materials employed. The team led by Dr. Chiappini, however, claims it has finally managed to solve these issues.
Human cells (green) on the nanoneedles (orange), getting DNA injected into their nuclei (blue) (Image: Imperial College London)
Genetic material is delivered to the cells through "nanoneedles" made of biodegradable silicon. The needles are highly porous, which allows them to can carry a heavier load of nucleic acids than previous structures, and their sharp points can easily penetrate the membrane of the cell to deliver its cargo, but still does not harm it. According to the scientists, the silicon degrades after two days leaving only a small amount of harmless, non-toxic residues.
The researchers tested their method by successfully delivering DNA andsiRNA to human cells in vitro. They were then able to use the nanoneedles to deliver nucleic acids to the back muscles of mice. This reportedly increased the formation of blood vessels six-fold after a week, with vessels continuing to grow for a further two weeks without causing detectable side effects.
"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," says Chiappini. "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."
The scientists are now looking for ways of using nucleic acids to re-program cells, changing their functions. If this is ever achieved, the medical repercussions could be very significant.
"By gaining direct access to the cytoplasm of the cell we have achieved genetic reprogramming at an incredible high efficiency," says corresponding author Ennio Tasciotti. "This will let us personalize treatments for each patient, giving us endless possibilities in sensing, diagnosis and therapy."
The advance is described in the latest issue of the journal Nature Materials.
Source: Imperial College London
Source: http://www.gizmag.com/silicon-nanoneedles-cell-reprogramming/36805/
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Founded by Russian entrepreneur Dmitry Itskov in February 2011 with the participation of leading Russian specialists in the field of neural interfaces, robotics, artificial organs and systems.
The main goals of the 2045 Initiative: the creation and realization of a new strategy for the development of humanity which meets global civilization challenges; the creation of optimale conditions promoting the spiritual enlightenment of humanity; and the realization of a new futuristic reality based on 5 principles: high spirituality, high culture, high ethics, high science and high technologies.
The main science mega-project of the 2045 Initiative aims to create technologies enabling the transfer of a individual’s personality to a more advanced non-biological carrier, and extending life, including to the point of immortality. We devote particular attention to enabling the fullest possible dialogue between the world’s major spiritual traditions, science and society.
A large-scale transformation of humanity, comparable to some of the major spiritual and sci-tech revolutions in history, will require a new strategy. We believe this to be necessary to overcome existing crises, which threaten our planetary habitat and the continued existence of humanity as a species. With the 2045 Initiative, we hope to realize a new strategy for humanity's development, and in so doing, create a more productive, fulfilling, and satisfying future.
The "2045" team is working towards creating an international research center where leading scientists will be engaged in research and development in the fields of anthropomorphic robotics, living systems modeling and brain and consciousness modeling with the goal of transferring one’s individual consciousness to an artificial carrier and achieving cybernetic immortality.
An annual congress "The Global Future 2045" is organized by the Initiative to give platform for discussing mankind's evolutionary strategy based on technologies of cybernetic immortality as well as the possible impact of such technologies on global society, politics and economies of the future.
Future prospects of "2045" Initiative for society
2015-2020
The emergence and widespread use of affordable android "avatars" controlled by a "brain-computer" interface. Coupled with related technologies “avatars’ will give people a number of new features: ability to work in dangerous environments, perform rescue operations, travel in extreme situations etc.
Avatar components will be used in medicine for the rehabilitation of fully or partially disabled patients giving them prosthetic limbs or recover lost senses.
2020-2025
Creation of an autonomous life-support system for the human brain linked to a robot, ‘avatar’, will save people whose body is completely worn out or irreversibly damaged. Any patient with an intact brain will be able to return to a fully functioning bodily life. Such technologies will greatly enlarge the possibility of hybrid bio-electronic devices, thus creating a new IT revolution and will make all kinds of superimpositions of electronic and biological systems possible.
2030-2035
Creation of a computer model of the brain and human consciousness with the subsequent development of means to transfer individual consciousness onto an artificial carrier. This development will profoundly change the world, it will not only give everyone the possibility of cybernetic immortality but will also create a friendly artificial intelligence, expand human capabilities and provide opportunities for ordinary people to restore or modify their own brain multiple times. The final result at this stage can be a real revolution in the understanding of human nature that will completely change the human and technical prospects for humanity.
2045
This is the time when substance-independent minds will receive new bodies with capacities far exceeding those of ordinary humans. A new era for humanity will arrive! Changes will occur in all spheres of human activity – energy generation, transportation, politics, medicine, psychology, sciences, and so on.
Today it is hard to imagine a future when bodies consisting of nanorobots will become affordable and capable of taking any form. It is also hard to imagine body holograms featuring controlled matter. One thing is clear however: humanity, for the first time in its history, will make a fully managed evolutionary transition and eventually become a new species. Moreover, prerequisites for a large-scale expansion into outer space will be created as well.
Key elements of the project in the future
• International social movement
• social network immortal.me
• charitable foundation "Global Future 2045" (Foundation 2045)
• scientific research centre "Immortality"
• business incubator
• University of "Immortality"
• annual award for contribution to the realization of the project of "Immortality”.
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