Nanoneedles generate new blood vessels
30 Mar 2015
Scientists from Imperial College London (ICL) and Houston Methodist Research Institute (HMRI), US have developed prototype nanoneedles that have been shown to generate new blood vessels in mice.
The nanoneedles, that work by delivering nucleic acids to specific cells within the body, could be used to help damaged organs and nerves to repair themselves and help transplanted organs to thrive in humans, the researchers said.
Molly Stevens, co-corresponding author from the Departments of Materials and of Bioengineering at ICL, said: “It is still very early days in our research, but we are pleased that the nanoneedles have been successful in this trial in mice.
“This is a quantum leap compared to existing technologies
Study author Ennio Tasciotti
“There are a number of hurdles to overcome and we haven’t yet trialled the nanoneedles in humans, but we think they have enormous potential for helping the body to repair itself.”
The nanoneedles act as a sponge, loading significantly more nucleic acids than solid structures, making them more effective at delivering their payload, the researchers said.
Made from non-toxic biodegradable silicon, the nanoneedles can penetrate the cell, bypassing its outer membrane, to deliver nucleic acids without harming or killing the cell.
“This is a quantum leap compared to existing technologies for the delivery of genetic material to cells and tissues,” said Ennio Tasciotti, co-chairman of the Department of Nanomedicine at HMRI and co-corresponding author of the research.
“By gaining direct access to the cytoplasm of the cell we have achieved genetic reprogramming at an incredible high efficiency,” Tasciotti said.
“This will let us personalise treatments for each patient, giving us endless possibilities in sensing, diagnosis and therapy. And all of this thanks to tiny structures that are up to 1,000 times smaller than a human hair.”
The research team is now looking to develop a material that is similar to a flexible bandage that can incorporate nanoneedles.
The idea is that this would be applied to different parts of the body, internally or externally, to deliver the nucleic acids necessary to repair and reset the cell programming, the researchers said.
