Tissue Regeneration

The latest science invention in health care is the development of a spray gun for regenerating skin tissue.

The Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM), recently established by the U.S. Department of Defense, is funding research into the regrowth of bones, muscles, tendons, nerves and blood vessels.

The University of Pittsburgh's McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine will join a consortium of 30 institutes in regenerative research.

Last year, a pathologist at the McGowan Institute regrew the severed fingertips of two patients in their mid sixties. Existing scar tissue was removed by an enzyme. Scarring inhibits regrowth, however cells derived from pig bladders can override the scarring process and attract cells and proteins needed for growth.

Another researcher with Wayne Forest University, is developing an inkjet device with cartridges containing tissue cells with growth factors. The device would dispense layers of tissue onto deep flesh wounds for healing and regrowth.

For surface wounds, a hand-held sprayer is in development, which sprays immature skin cells (called keratinocytes) onto the skin. Clinical trials with burn victims have been promising. The advantages of this technology compared to "grafting" is that it eliminates patchwork scarring and uses less skin.

"Conventional methods cannot return people to the way they were before" says biochemist Alan Russell, but it's within the grasp of science.