Given the prevalence of diabetes, it’s not surprising that we have to consider replacing damaged blood vessels.
After all, Type 2 diabetes damages endothelial cells. These cells have all sorts of problems in the presence of high blood sugar levels. (This is also one of the reasons fingers and limbs need to be amputated, because of the tissue damage. )
Now, a new solution may be available from China. [Dr. Xingyu Jiang, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China is the primary researcher, his compatriots at Southern University are Shiyu Cheng, Chen Hang, Li Ding, Lei Mou, Jie Qi, and Ruihua Dong.) Drs. Lixue Tang and WEnfu Zheng are associated with the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Beijing). Drs. Liujun Jia and Yan Zhang are from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (Beijing). They reported their results in Matter, “Electronic Blood Vessel”.]
Dr. Jiang prints a layer of liquid metal ink (primarily gallium and indium) atop a flexible, biodegradable polymeric membrane. (The liquid metal serves as an electrode.) This structure is then rolled into a cylinder to create a 2 mm wide blood vessel.
Why do they need an electrode? Because sending pulses to the electrode stimulates living endothelial cells to gather and proliferate on the structure- that makes it just like regular blood vessels, lined with endothelial cells. (Dr. Jiang feels these are less like to engender blood clots.)
(Electrical fields can also be used to make the vessel more permeable [in a process called electroporation], so it can deliver drugs to neighboring cells.)
One of the first places they are considering testing this new vessel is as a carotid artery replacement.
Interesting! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Shreya.
Technology is amazing, isn’t it? This is important for diabetic and other people with vessel disease. But then, maybe it will be helpful for other applications!
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Many folks have restrictions in their carotid arteries. This could be the perfect replacement.
Another printed product. Who ever could have dreamed of this – printing houses? printing blood vessels? We really need to get all this technology up and running.
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Absolutely correct, Alana. We need this technology now.
Roy, what an amazing innovation! Thank you! I hope to hear many success stories in future, with this device.
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Thanks, Kebba- for the comment and the visit.
That is amazing how this would work!
I’m with you, Martha. SciTech is bring us the future.
The marvels of tech indeed! Just yesterday as my son was working on his final projects for his final year of high school, we were discussing just the same – about all that tech has made possible for us.. And considering who he is, and that he will be off to college in fall to learn and do more of that, I know he will be building something like this as well soon enough..
That is so super, Vidya. Great success to your son!