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.
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.
