Nanoneedles can generate new blood vessels

Scientists have developed nanoneedles that can successfully prompt parts of the body to generate new blood vessels in mice.
The researchers, from Imperial College London and Houston Methodist Research Institute in the US, hope their nanoneedle technique could ultimately help damaged organs and nerves to repair themselves and help transplanted organs to thrive.
The nanoneedles work by delivering nucleic acids to a specific area. Nucleic acids are the building blocks of all living organisms and they encode, transmit and express genetic information.
The nanoneedles are tiny porous structures that act as a sponge to load significantly more nucleic acids than solid structures. This makes them more effective at delivering their payload.

They can penetrate the cell, bypassing its outer membrane, to deliver nucleic acids without harming or killing the cell.
The nanoneedles are made from biodegradable silicon, meaning that they can be left in the body without leaving a toxic residue behind. The silicon degrades in about two days, leaving behind only a negligible amount of a harmless substance called orthosilicic acid.

In a trial described in the journal Nature Materials, the team showed they could deliver the nucleic acids DNA and siRNA into human cells in the lab, using the nanoneedles.
They also showed they could deliver nucleic acids into the back muscles in mice. After seven days there was a six-fold increase in the formation of new blood vessels in the mouse back muscles, and blood vessels continued to form over a 14 day period.

The technique did not cause inflammation or other harmful side effects.
Researchers hope that one day scientists would be able to promote the generation of new blood vessels in people, using nanoneedles, to provide transplanted organs or future artificial organ implants with the necessary connections to the rest of the body, so that they can function properly with a minimal chance of being rejected.
"This is a quantum leap compared to existing technologies for the delivery of genetic material to cells and tissues," said Ennio Tasciotti, Co-Chair, Department of Nanomedicine at Houston Methodist Research Institute and co-corresponding author of the paper.

"By gaining direct access to the cytoplasm of the cell we have achieved genetic reprogramming at an incredible high efficiency.
"This will let us personalise treatments for each patient, giving us endless possibilities in sensing, diagnosis and therapy," Tasciotti said.
The researchers are now aiming to develop a material like a flexible bandage that can incorporate the nanoneedles.
The idea is that this would be applied to different parts of the body, internally or externally, to deliver the nucleic acids necessary to repair and reset the cell programming.