By Abaan Merchant
In recent years,
attempts to artificially reprogram cells has garnered a great deal of
attention. Research efforts hope to apply cellular reprogramming towards rebuilding
damaged limbs and organs, correcting prenatal issues, and improving
reconstructive surgery. Existing methods of reprogramming cells have proven to
be ineffective or risky, stalling new medical possibilities. For example, the
most common method of DNA/RNA and protein delivery in recent years employed
viruses. However, this method did not prove viable as it would sometimes trigger
an immune response, rendering harm to the host. Rather than continuing with
biological techniques, researchers turned to emerging technologies to generate novel
methods.
A study published
in Nature Nanotechnology (3) seems to
have found a breakthrough in reprogramming cell DNA. Advancements in computer
science in recent decades have encouraged researchers to employ technological
means to achieve cell reprogramming. Specifically, the use and manipulation of
microchips plays a vital role in exploring new procedures in medicine. The
procedure (named tissue nanotransfection) involves making a very small incision
in the skin and inserting a nanochip between a cluster of cells. The nanochip contains
several tiny channels capable of applying an electric field to the surrounding
cells without harming them or changing their physiology. These electric fields
create an opening in the cell membrane that allows new genetic material and
proteins to be inserted.
Chanden Sen, a
physiologist at Ohio State University, further utilized this method while targeting
deep tissue in mice. The mice in his experiment had legs that were damaged by
severed arteries, which cut off blood supply to the limbs. After injecting the
mice with the nanochips, Dr. Sen observed how epithelial cells were rapidly
converted into endothelial cells (which line the interior wall of blood
vessels). Gradually, the mice started to form new blood vessels, allowing for
an increased blood flow and resulting in a completely healed leg.
Dr. Sen’s
experiment is one of the numerous pioneering research efforts to integrate
technology into medicine. These findings, although not yet tested widely in
humans, illustrates a bright future for patients. The use of nano/microchips in
biological roles is not exclusive to cell reprogramming. A paper published on
NCBI (Programmable Bio-Nano-Chip
Technology for the Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Disease at the Point-of-Care)
(1) describes a research effort by a group of physicians to utilize microchips
to diagnose heart-problems before they can occur. Given that cardiovascular
disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, introducing microchips to
cardiovascular medicine is an important step forward in technique and research.
While
nanotechnology has proven to be an invaluable tool, its incorporation to some
areas of medicine and research have been short term and gradual. Specifically,
neuroscience has been the leading of example of sluggish medical advancement. For
instance, an article written in MIT News, Stretching
the Boundaries of Neural Implants, (2) discusses the medicinal possibilities
of an elastic fiber developed to help patients with spinal issues. However,
almost all the ideas proposed were theoretical; when compared to other medical fields
such as cardiology (which have not only developed advanced medical technology
but have utilized it on patients), neuroscience has not adapted rapidly.
Essentially, neuroscience has failed to form new techniques of research for
decades.
These shortcomings
are discussed in Dr. Jonas’s and Dr. Kording’s research article Could a Neuroscientist Understand a
Processor? (5) The paper illustrates how effectively current
neuroscientific research methods (lesioning, monitoring field potentials, etc.)
could be utilized to determine the function of a component of a microprocessor.
Results obtained proved to be inconclusive between tests, oftentimes differing
in outcome from one another. For example, lesioning the same part of the
microchip would portray different functional problems between tests. The
purpose of the article was to illustrate how current neuroscientific methods
failed to adapt to the future of medicine and research: nanotechnology. If
neuroscientific methods of research could not be updated to accommodate new
technology, then the field would cease any progress and discovery.
During a
neuroscience seminar at the Loyola University Chicago, Dr. Mark Albert further
expanded on Dr. Kording’s paper and the field of computer science. He explained
that rather than neuroscience having to find an alternative to nanotechnology,
it was important for researchers to learn and develop their skills in computer
science. Dr. Albert noted how brain-to-machine technology would be invaluable
in deciphering patterns of the brain and replicating them for patients. For
example, patients with Parkinson’s Disease have diminished amounts of
dopaminergic receptors. Nanotechnology could be harnessed to make the Basal
Ganglia receptive to dopamine once again by sending the proper signals
artificially.
While it is
difficult to implement new technology in medicine and research, taking the time
to understand and implement computer science is important. Gradually, all
fields of medicine will come to rely (at varying degrees) on nanotechnology.
Computer science will continue to lead the way to new and improved medicine and
research.
Works
Cited
1) Christodoulides,
N., Pierre, F. N., Sanchez, X., Li, L., Hocquard, K., Patton, A., . . .
McDevitt, J. T. (2012). Programmable Bio-Nano-Chip Technology for the Diagnosis
of Cardiovascular Disease at the Point-of-Care. Retrieved October 16, 2017,
from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3405784/
2) David
L. Chandler | MIT News Office. (2017, March 31). Stretching the boundaries of
neural implants. Retrieved October 16, 2017, from http://news.mit.edu/2017/stretching-boundaries-neural-implants-0331
3) Makin,
S. (2017, September 29). Chip Reprograms Cells to Regenerate Damaged Tissue.
Retrieved October 16, 2017, from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/chip-reprograms-cells-to-regenerate-damaged-tissue/
4) Nanotechnology
Project. (n.d.). Retrieved October 16, 2017, from http://www.nanotechproject.org/inventories/medicine/
5) (n.d.).
Retrieved October 16, 2017, from https://luc.app.box.com/v/neuroseminar/file/216114468678
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