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Bandages That Can Turn Off Genes Encourages Wound Healing

Posted by samzenpus on from the all-in-one-healing dept.

MTorrice writes "Medical researchers think specially tailored RNA sequences could kill tumor cells or encourage wound healing by turning off genes in patients' cells. Now researchers have developed a nanocoating for bandages or other medical materials that could deliver these fragile gene-silencing RNAs right where they're needed. The team hopes to produce a bandage that shuts down genes standing in the way of healing in chronic wounds."

4 of 54 comments (clear)

  1. That would be a Godsend by hardburlyboogerman · · Score: 5, Interesting

    For Type 1 diabetics,like myself.We are plagued by non-healing chronic open wounds that set up into gangrene.I lost my right foot to such a wound that started as a blister

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    Geek Hillbilly
  2. Re:Leg fell off by ras · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I wonder if it can cure a nasty case of "leg fell off"?

    No.

    But if you are under the age of 6, not wrapping a finger in a bandage means it will probably grow back. From www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/scienceshow/4632692 (click on Transcript):

    Dany Adams: It's interesting, in humans if you were six years old and you cut the tip of your finger off it would grow back, as long as the doctors do not do the normal thing, which is to pull some skin and cover the wound to prevent infection, which is a very good thing to do, but if you don't do that and you allow it to stay open, it will in fact regenerate if you are six years old.

  3. Re:What's being 'silenced' here? by TrashGod · · Score: 5, Informative

    The idea is to down-regulate the production of protein(s) that induce cellular senescence in chronic wounds, for example. The short interfering RNA molecules are fragile. The article is touting a potentially more effective delivery system (gun), rather than a particular fragment (bullet).

  4. This is spectacular. by bmo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Foot ulcers in diabetics and bed sores in the elderly are really hard to deal with. Even when blood sugar is under control, these things take a long time to heal. You don't ever want one to happen to you.

    Slapping a specially treated bandage on a wound can *genetically* encourage healing? This is tantamount to finding out that you can cure scurvy with vitamin C to the affected people.

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    BMO