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London: British scientists claim to be for the first
time growing human body parts at a laboratory at the
University College London, which they say could soon
make organ donation a thing of the past. A team, led by
professor Alexander Seifalian of the varsity’s
department of nanotechnology and regenerative medicine,
claims it’s actually focussing on growing replacement
organs and body parts to order, using a patient’s own
cells.
“This is a nose we’re growing for a patient next
month. It’s a world first. Nobody has ever grown a nose
before,” Seifalian was quoted by ‘Daily Mail’ as saying.
In fact, the scientists say that when the the nose
is transferred to the patient, it doesn’t go directly
onto the face but will be placed inside a balloon
inserted beneath the skin on their arm.
After four weeks, during which time skin and blood
vessels can grow, the nose can be monitored, then it can
be transplanted to the face, they say. Added Adelola
Oseni, a team member: “Other groups have tried to tackle
nose replacement with implants but we’ve found they
don’t last. They migrate, the shape of the nose changes.
But our one will hold itself completely, as it’s an
entire nose shape made out of polymer.”
Looking like very thin Latex rubber, the polymer is
made up of billions of molecules, each measuring just
over one nanometre, or 40,000 times smaller than the
width of a human hair. Working at molecular level allows
the material itself to be intricately detailed. “Inside
this nanomaterial are thousands of small holes. Tissue
grows into these and becomes part of it. It becomes the
same as a nose and will even feel like one,” Seifalian
said. |
