Can I present to you an interesting piece of news, please?
Some engineers from MIT have designed a nanoparticle that can work in two ways in the human body:
One, as a vaccine.
Two, as an immune system booster in response to proteins.
Just imagine—this tiny particle can protect your body and strengthen your immune system at the same time!
That’s the power of nanotechnology.
What is nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology is a branch of science and technology that mainly focuses on the study, design, and manufacture of matter at the nanoscale (sized 1 to 100 nanometers).
In environmental science, homeland security, information technology, and even in making baseball bats and helmets, nanotechnology has become indispensable.
But nanotechnology doesn’t stop there. Research has expanded its uses even further. Its impact can now be seen in the health sector in incredible ways, such as testing for genetic disorders, diagnosing neurological conditions, advancing gene therapy, and more.
Tissue engineering
Every year, countless lives are lost tragically due to fire accidents. When fire touches the human body, the skin is the first layer to come into contact with it. Intense heat can burn and damage the tissues beneath the skin.
This is where tissue engineering steps in to repair burned skin.
Tissue engineering is a branch of engineering applied to damaged tissues. Its main goal is to develop and maintain biological tissues, even entire organs. Artificial skin can be applied in cases of severe burn injuries, and there are many other applications for this amazing engineering method.
The Role of Nanofibers in Tissue Engineering
So far, we’ve learned about skin burns and tissue engineering. Now let’s see how nanotechnology combined with tissue engineering to offers more advanced solutions for burnt skin.
Researchers have found nanofibers to be the advanced solution.
Nanofibers are the fibers of the nano world. They are fibrous materials with at least one dimension of less than 100 nanometers.
The picture you are looking at is not a playing gun at all.
This gun spray a skin-like polymers which is made of nanofibers. This polymers act as a second skin over the wounds. It also helps enhance the recovery of the skin without any pain. As soon as the wound heals, the second skin pulls off automatically.
How nice is that!
That’s what the combination of tissue engineering and nanotechnology provides—easy, painless, and quick recovery.
Nanoparticles with tissue engineering don’t stop here.
Nanotechnology spreads its wings to recover damaged bone tissues and vascular tissues, holding the hand of tissue engineering.
Organ Transplantation
Organ transplantation can help people live longer, but its side effects are increasing and often disrupt a person’s normal life. As surgical procedures improve, the demand for organ transplants (heart, kidney, liver, etc.) increases.
Organ shortages and graft failures make organ transplantation very challenging. Additionally, some immunosuppressant drugs weaken the patient’s normal immune system.
In 2014, a survey in the US showed that only 17,000 kidneys were available for at least 99,000 kidney failure patients on the waiting list.
This is really a matter of concern.
Kidney transplantation is the most effective way to treat renal failure. While dialysis is an option, it often disrupts the patient’s daily life. Nanotechnology offers a promising solution to this problem.
IAK for Kidney Transplantation
Using a combination of silicon nanotechnology and tissue engineering, researchers have developed a new device called IAK (Implantable Artificial Kidney). This device is surgically implanted into patients and contains microchips that form filtration channels. These channels filter waste products from the body while retaining essential elements.
One major advantage of this device is that it doesn’t require an electric pump or external energy source. It works using the patient’s blood pressure. This is a great example of how nanotechnology can help people with kidney disease.
Researchers are also working on using nanotechnology to help with cell transplantation for better treatments in the future.
