Do you like science fiction movies? If so, surely you have always liked them. About 20 years ago these movies showed what the world would be like in the future and, deep down; you probably hoped that it would be like that.
Some of these movies featured flying vehicles, space travel for tourists, super advanced computers, humans with robotic parts, and much more. And, as strange as it may seem, the truth is that many of these theories, at present, are a reality. What makes us think what will become of science and technology tomorrow?
Today it is normal to see people who have metal parts. For example, some implants, some limbs, plates to repair some bone, nails in the knees or ankles and many other things. Although it is true that they are foreign objects, they allow the performance of daily activities and provide a better quality of life.
Such is the case of Nano chips, this is an integrated electronic circuit of tiny size, which is measured precisely on the nanometer scale and is being used in different areas of life.
In the case of medicine, they are being used for all diagnostic techniques, in order to classify pathogenic diseases, hereditary anomalies, predisposing diseases and reactions to pharmaceutical therapies.
Now, did you know that there is the possibility of reprogramming cells with the help of these Nano chips? How can it be done? For what purpose is it done? How does it benefit us? What risks does it involve? If you want to know the answers to these and other questions, in this post you will be able to know them. Only then will you have more confidence when undergoing some of these medical procedures.
Instructions for reprogramming cells with Nano chips
Scientists around the world have dedicated themselves to designing a prototype of a new Nano chip-shaped device, which is intended to reprogram skin cells so that they can be new blood vessels and new nerve cells.
All this, thanks to the great medical advances of recent years where it has been possible to take specialized adult cells to transform them into a type of non-specialized stem cells, located in the tissue of the embryos.
Stem cells have great therapeutic potential, which we intend to make the most of, thanks to their ability to become other cells, tissues and organs that are fully compatible with the patient. In this way, the problem of rejection due to tissue incompatibility or the tireless search for approved donors is left aside.
Of course, like any laboratory procedure, this involves certain risks, such as the creation of cancer cells.
In order to prevent this from happening, the possibility of turning the human body into a cellular programmer has been considered, using a new technology that consists of the use of a silicon Nano chip that contains a kind of channel that ends in micro needles and, above all, the chip, place a rectangular container with certain genes.
These genes are driven by a focused charge that introduces them into living tissues, altering the cells and turning that space into a small bioreactor, which, in turn, is responsible for reprogramming the cells so that they become different types. Of cells or multicellular structures.
Once they have occurred, they have the ability to repair damage locally or to other parts of the body, including the brain. Best of all, it is done without going through complex laboratory techniques or dangerous virus transfer systems.
What do you need to reprogram cells with Nano chips?
You need to know that this technology is made up of two components:
- The first of them is a hardware chip, which has been designed through nanotechnology and is responsible for delivering a certain charge to the adult cells found in the body.
- The second of them consists of a design with a specific biological load, essential for the transformation of the cells, which, in turn, allows this load, when delivered through the Nano chip, to convert the adult cell into another that has the characteristics that are required.
This procedure is known as tissue Nano transfection and, it should be noted that it does not require any laboratory procedure. On the other hand, it can be implanted where it is needed without the slightest problem.
It is also necessary to note that the procedure is not invasive. The Nano chip is only required to come into contact with the epidermis for 1 second to deliver the charge to the skin cells so that they transform into vasculogenic cells.
With the reprogramming of cells with Nano chips, the use of stem cells is avoided. Also, it is very simple and easy to implement.
Currently, its use has already been authorized to allow the dermis and other tissues of the body to become others already adapted and modified, in order to be used in different types of therapies, eliminating, almost completely, the problem of the incompatibility.
Among these therapies are those that are required in cases of minor and severe burns, to reduce complications from diabetes, in the case of people who have been injured in one way or another, and to regenerate the tissue that is damaged or sick.
The Nano chip possesses the ability to change the function of living body parts. For example, if a person has suffered a traffic accident and their blood vessels have been damaged, making a blood transfusion necessary, since the blood vessel is damaged and can no longer be used, the Nano chip transforms the skin tissues into blood vessels and thus be able to save the limb that was compromised.
Tips for reprogramming cells with Nano chips
Those responsible for the development of this Nano chip, capable of reprogramming cells, are the researcher Chand and Seen and his team from the Indiana University School of Medicine.
Before this great advance, it was possible to take specialized adult cells and reverse them to the point of becoming unspecialized stem cells, which are located in the embryonic tissue and have great therapeutic potential. However, the risk of causing an increase in cancer cells is undeniable.
The work, based on this research, has been developed for about 5 years. However, now the team has the desire to turn this prototype into a practical application. For this, it requires the approval of the competent bodies.
If approved, clinical trials in people would begin. Some of its applications would include repairing brain damage caused by a cardiovascular accident or reversing damage to the nervous system caused by the degeneration of diabetes.
If we stop for a moment to think about what has been achieved, we realize that, behind it, there is the great contribution of engineering with the manufacture of the chip. This is what has made it possible.
On the other hand, although it is true that the manufacture of a single Nano chip can take between 5 and 6 days, since it is a very simple procedure, with the necessary information, anyone who has some experience in the field of engineering, you can achieve it.
All this allows us to see that advances in science point towards a better health system, one that is more complete, more efficient and with fewer risks for the patient. Without a doubt, the health system that we all want and need.
