Day 55 – Q 2. What advances have taken place in the field of regenerative biotechnology? Examine.

2. What advances have taken place in the field of regenerative biotechnology? Examine. 

पुनर्योजी जैव प्रौद्योगिकी के क्षेत्र में क्या प्रगति हुई है? जांच करें।

Introduction:

Regenerative biotechnology is a field of biotechnology that develops tools and therapeutics through modification and engineering of stem cells. It offers hope of effective treatment for a variety of malignant and non-malignant diseases and is useful in development of regenerative medicine.

Body

The sole reliance on transplantation has created a waiting list of people requiring donated tissues and organs, and generally, supply cannot meet the demand. regenerate tissues and in some cases create new tissues altogether.  employing both engineering and biological principles to create new tissues and organs and to promote the regeneration of damaged or diseased tissues and organs. 

Advancement in regenerative biotechnology:

• Regenerative technology is already being in use for treatment like Bone marrow transplantation to treat diseases like leukemia. 
• 3D Bioprinting: have made advancement using regenerative technology in Cartilage regeneration, skin regeneration and organs generation. E.g. scientists were able to generate a fully functional liver using the technology. 
• Regenerative cardiovascular therapy: it includes myocardial regeneration using the stem cells. E.g. Recently, scientists were successful in converting stem cells into heart pacemaker.
• Advances in Induced pluripotent stem cells:  iPSCs are being transformed into Embryonic stem cells using advanced iPSC technology which can help in organ generation and tissue transformation.
• Researches are progressing in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s using regenerative biotechnology. Recently, a novel method for treating Parkinson’s using stem cell therapy.
• Embryonic stem cells are giving new insights in motor neuron diseases and advance are being made in regeneration of tissue and treatment of disease in tissue specific manner.
• Regenerative technology is being tested for immune system regeneration 
• Potential applications include skin replacement, hair loss treatment, treatment of diabetes and so on which are in the research stages. 
• The technology is being used to increase the understanding of how diseases occur by watching stem cells mature into cells in bones, heart muscle, nerves, and other organs and tissue.
• Test new drugs for safety and effectiveness. Before using investigational drugs in people, researchers can use some types of stem cells to test the drugs for safety and quality. 

The advancement in the field is associated with certain challenges and risks like

• Ethical issues stem from the use of Embryonic cells which are to be treated as life by themselves.
• Cost can be prohibitive for many patients. It creates further inequality where in the rich will get to live longer as the cost of these therapies are beyond the reach of average human being.
• Unproven treatments often come with high rejection rates. Also, there are concerns of the unintended side effects which are often unpredictable.
• Chances of misuse: using clones which can be used as bioweapons or start a new organ mafia and so on.

Recognizing the potential of regenerative technology, the nations all over the world are investing in its research. Even India has formulated National Guidelines for Stem Cell Research to encourage the same.

Conclusion

A number of diseases and conditions are now being treated via the use of regenerative medicine. The technology is continuously evolving with the innovation in developing biomaterials and use of new technologies like nanotechnology.