Healing from the Inside Out: Scientists Create Revolutionary Biomaterial for Treating Tissue Damage
Figure 1. A new biomaterial, pictured in a University of California, San Diego laboratory, can be injected through the veins to heal tissue after a heart attack. David Baillot/ University of California, San Diego. Retrieved from www.sciencenews.org
Scientists have recently made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize the way we treat tissue damage. A new biomaterial has been developed that can be injected intravenously, reducing inflammation in tissue and promoting cell and tissue repair.
This biomaterial is ideal for preventing further damage from heart attacks, as it can heal tissues from the inside out. It is made from pigs' intestines and is called SIS when moistened, which makes it flexible and easy to use. The partially ordered protein forms a stable, porous scaffold that can rapidly integrate into tissue and promote the formation of blood vessels.
UCLA scientists with colleagues at Duke University and other institutions have also developed a wound-healing biomaterial that could reduce scarring and promote tissue regeneration. This biomaterial was created using goat intestinal tissues, and can be used to make scaffolds that will be potentially useful for healing skin wounds and tissue damage.
Figure 2. Martin Spang is the first author on the Nature Biomedical Engineering paper that details a new biomaterial that heals tissues from the inside out. David Baillot/ University of California San Diego. Retrieved from www.scitechdaily.com
Tissue engineering has come a long way in recent years, thanks to advances in biomaterials, stem cell science, and more. Researchers are now tantalizingly close to regenerating damaged body parts, making this an exciting time for medical research.
This new biomaterial could be a game changer when it comes to treating tissue damage caused by heart attacks or other injuries. It's an incredible breakthrough that could lead to improved treatments for many different kinds of injuries in the future.
Sources:
https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/scientists-invent-biomaterial-healing-tissue
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230130144805.htm
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/new-biomaterial-heals-heart-attack-damage