Printing a revolution!

3D printing is a fairly new concept which has the potential to change medicine forever. Already we are seeing great medical advances, such as in surgery, which are greatly due to 3D printing. With 3D printing we could create structures which are suited to each individual, this could be simply life changing to many people. Such as the story of Hayley Fraser, the first girl in the UK to have a prosthetic hand created with a 3D printer. There are many more cases, like that of Hayley, such as the case of Leakhena Laing, who had a leg amputation after a car accident.






Recently scientists have been able to 3D print bone that could be used to replace damaged bone tissues. This would remove the need for implants, which has numerous drawbacks including the fact that they are easily broken. Another potential option is to take bones from other parts of the body which encompasses more surgery and often stress for the patient. There is also a dearer alternative, which is to use crystallised bones from human bodies. However, 3D printing would provide a more ideal and cost effective method of replacing damaged bones whilst also reducing the surgery required by the patient. Currently, Northwestern University in Illinois has have created an ink which allows the printed bones to be elastic to such an extent where they can be altered during surgery to create the perfect fit. The bone will then turn into natural bone.




Leading scientists are now trying to make the next step - 3d printing living tissues and organs. Before it had been problematic developing blood vessels which could deliver nutrients and oxygen.


Can we 3D print blood?




References:

• The New Scientist
• BBC 
• The Guardian
• The Guardian

Nanomedicines

In the future, nanotechnology could form future cures to diseases such as cancer, diabetes and cystic fibrosis.



Currently, nanoparticles can be used to advance drug treatments for many illnesses such as breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and emphysema. One of the main advantages of nanomedicines is that they can overcome the problem with the body removing the drug before it has taken effect. They are also able to specifically target certain cells, such as cancerous cells, whilst not harming healthy tissues.

(Image from: British Society of Medicine)



We could be inserting nanotechnologies into the body, which travel through the circulatory and lymphatic systems, acting as activity monitors. These can alert to chemical imbalances, through wireless transmitters. They can also inform when a disease is developing. Similar nanotechnologies could release drugs or hormones into the body, hence removing the need to remember to take prescriptions. The DNA nanobot is a new device which can target cancerous cells; when the nanobot identifies the targeted cell, its two halves swing open to release drugs. Thus ensuring that all the cancer is completely removed after surgery, hence removing the need for chemotherapy  We may also be implanting nanomachines into the nerves system, which oversees brain-wave activity, as well as pulse.




Even more advanced uses of nanotechnology could mean the utilisation of nanorobots during surgery: they could replace or fix damaged structures in the body. These could make their way into cells and change DNA molecules to correct inherited diseases.

(Image from: The Scientist)



Recent research at Queen's University has suggested that nanoparticles could be the cure for acute lung injury, which affects 20% of people in intensive care. The nanoparticles can attach to the blood cells which is linked with lung damage, reducing inflammation. This new drug is the size of 1 billionth of a metre.



Other nanomedicines could be based on polymers, graphene proteins, DNA, quantum dots, and surprisingly viruses.Viruses are already coming to the forefront of medicine with some being used to send replacement genes into targeted cells, which could cure genetic disorders. Synthetic polymers can be used to create worm shaped nanoparticles which are able to elude the body's immune system so that the body is not able to remove them, these could be used to specifically target tumours.



Reference:

• British Society of Nanomedicine
• What is.com
• BBC focus magazine