Medical technology is bringing science-fiction to reality.There is a new medical technology being developed and it’s the stuff science-fiction dreams are made of. USA Today reports that Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT) “injects genetic code into skin cells, turning those skin cells into other types of cells required for treating diseased conditions.”
The procedure is non-invasive and takes moments to complete. A medical professional places the “dime-sized” chip on the affected area and with one touch the injured flesh begins the healing process. Tissue Nanotransfection is easy to transport, Chandan Sen, director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine and Cell-Based Therapies, explains:
“This technology does not require a laboratory or hospital and can actually be executed in the field,” Sen said. “It’s less than 100 grams to carry and will have a long shelf life.”
Such a small medical tool would be easy to carry in an emergency medical kit and is expected to save the lives of many soldiers who are injured in combat. Because there is no need of transport to a hospital, soldiers could be healing moments after a wound is inflicted.
TNT is also not just for flesh wounds. Along with saving injured legs, TNT was able to restore brain function in a mouse which had suffered a stroke. The process used the mouse’s skin to grow new brain cells and showed that TNT is capable of working on any type of tissue.
While we are a long way off from seeing FDA approval for Tissue Nanotransfection, it is expected to begin human testing within the year.
