In pioneering new research, the holy grail in regeneration of lost limbs for amputees is coming to fruition. Scientists have now succeed in growing a new rat limb in the laboratory.
They want to refine the technology and attempt to regrow a new arm for a monkey. The goal to eventually use human stem cells to grow new limbs that would be transplanted in humans.
In June 2015, I was reading about a report in the media that regenerative scientists at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and with Harvard Medical School, had regenerated a rat bio-limb with functional vascular and muscle tissue. Thus researchers adapted an experimental procedure used to develop bio-artificial organs.
It is hoped that eventually the developing technology can regenerate human limbs suitable for transplantation on demand.
Professor Harald Ott is leading this research project and is the director of organ repair and regeneration lab at MGH in Boston. He points out that there is no real good options for replacing lost limbs at the moment.
In America alone, around 185,000 amputations happen each year and over 2 million Americans are living with limb loss.
Prosthetic limb technologies have certainly improved over the decades and especially in the past 10 years but nothing can be a substitute for the real natural limb.
It be great to put things back the way they were before the patient’s injuries. Making them whole and complete again. Well now with the advancements of science we can, as we start entering compelling and unknown territory.
Regenerative medicine is very much in its infancy but what is being revealed right now and being developed is highly significant.
No one really knows how regenerative medicine will take off over the next decade but one thing is for sure that it will be really big and is going to completely change our lives and how we live.
Not least in upgrading and improving the human experience and the quality of our lives, expanding our longevity.
Limb Transplants
In the past 20 years there have been a number of hand transplants from donors.
Also in a recent research project with the US Military, a marine who lost both his arms below the elbow, successfully had a double arm and hand transplant. I am aware that the outcome of this procedure is still a great success with the patient.
These kind of procedures are great achievements in improving the quality of the patient’s life.
However, they can expose the patient to a life long treatment with immune-suppressant drug treatments to combat any rejection from the body of the new body part. These treatments can have a damaging effect on the patient’s immune system making them vulnerable to viruses and diseases.
Regrowing New Limbs
The research being carried out is an ambitious project involving regeneration of limbs made up of cells from the recipient’s own body to grow an arm or leg. This means that it will unlikely be rejected by the patient’s immune system.
So far the research has been successful to regrow a rat’s arm and now they want to do the same with a monkey’s arm. Thus upgrading and attempting the process from the rodent to a primate.
In fact the scientists have successfully decellularized baboon forearms to clarify the feasibility of the study, therefore taking it to a level that would be required for human patients.
The Procedure
What is know as Progenitor cells are required to regenerate all of the tissues that make up the limb. These can be provided by the patient, however, what has been lacking was a scaffold on which the cells develop into the correct tissues.
The process involves stripping living cells from a donor using a detergent solution. The remaining matrix is then repopulated with the progenitor cells that is appropriate for the specific organ to grow. The same idea is used for growing a limb but is more complex as the primary vasculature and nerve matrix must be preserved.
Once all the cellular materials are removed which takes about a week, what you have left is the cell free matrix that provides the appropriate structure of all the limb’s composite tissues.
In other words, the frame work structure that is left, is similar to the shape of a car, but you have blasted everything away except the metal frame.
While a donor limb was used in this process mentioned above, in the future the cells will be taken from the recipient. Therefore, the outcome will be genetically compatible with the patient’s body.
So that suitable regeneration could take place, the limb was placed inside a bio-reactor that supplies oxygen, nutrients, along with electrical stimulation. This process took a few weeks for the limb to finish growing.
On testing, scientists stimulated the new grown limb with electricity and observed that the paw would close and open, meaning that the muscles were functional. Researchers then proceeded to attach the limb to the rat under sedation and found that blood circulation developed.
In addition, they tested electrical stimulation after the limb was attach and saw movement of the animals paws.
Nerve Cell Regeneration
Along with the plan to regrow an arm in a monkey, the next step is to ensure that the nerves develop within the new grown limb. Nerve signalling reintegration does occur with hand transplants but with a new bio “artificial” limb it may be more complex.
While scientists are now starting to set their sights on how they could apply this technology to humans one day, there is still many challenges ahead to overcome. They feel it could be 10 years before possible medical trials may occur, however, this is not that far away, and the 2020s should be very interesting in what is possible in medical science.
Ott feels that he will be working in science long enough to see this research come to manifestation. As he says: “I will live to the clinical application of this.”
A Moment Of Reflection
It is perhaps worth pondering on the implications of not just the above and how these technologies will eventually change society, but also regenerative medicine in general.
Today parents and rightly so, will tell their children how important looking after your second set of teeth, since it is the only ones you have. As when they are lost then they are gone for good.
However, that is not really true anymore, since the new kind of era we are entering now means we can just grow them back! In fact new experimental procedures are coming on the stage now in dentistry where they are starting to do this a little. With new methods in treatments for fillings instead of drilling the teeth.
While this website is focusing on limb regeneration, I have been researching in other specific areas of regeneration including organ and breast regeneration. Regrowing breasts for women whom have had a single or double mastectomy, is also been done in clinical trials.
As far back as 2009 a project in Australia where a clinical trial was taking place, using the patient’s own stem cells to regenerate the lost breast using a scaffold matrix. As a new treatment instead of using silicon implants with have their own problems.
Again we can now make a lady whole and complete again. However, this procedure was a trial and I believe some women were a success but there were problems with others. So the trials were stopped until further advancements and understanding of the technologies in regenerating a women’s breast.
I am not familiar with the latest developments in stem cell reconstruction breast surgery for mastectomy patients. Apart from in 2014 a New Zealand women in her 60s, has had a new procedure to regenerate her left breast that was removed due to cancer.
In the media back in 2012 the celebrity Suzanne Somers whom lost a breast due to cancer, was the first woman in America to have the treatment with great success. She mentioned that she wanted to wait until the stem cell technology became available and not have the current silicon implants.
It will be interesting to see how the regeneration turns out. If a limb lost could regrow and be successful, it would be wonderful.
Thank you Ira. Yes indeed it would be fantastic. At this point its too early to say when but the next 10 years will be interesting to see how this plays out. I reckon stem cell technologies will start to explode.
On another website from a research institute in California that specializes in limb regeneration and has its funding from the DoD. A lead scientist responding to a comment from someone (an Olympic skier) who lost their foot due to a rare disease. The scientist pointed out that he would not be working as hard as he could to see it happen, if he didn’t think it would be possible someday.
Alex.
Hi Alexander,the things that can be done today is amazing.It is almost scary. Growing a limb on a human is great news but as usual where else will this technology start being used for bad instead of good? Growing who knows what to change identities? Gotta make you wonder. Great info though.you made me think.
Cheers,
Barry
Hi Barry, Thank you for your insightful thoughts. It is indeed fantastic but you are right we have to be careful and look at the ethical challenges ahead. Knowledge is neither good or bad but the intent behind it. And in the wrong hands it can be devastating. I guess one thing comes to mind is super soldiers or those with super human abilities – if that’s possible. So in the military is one area where it can be used as a deadly weapon and abused. But I am confident we will get through those issues and use science and knowledge for the greater good of humanity. Just focusing on healing and regeneration.
Wow! I wish I had the words to express how amazing this is! I didn’t know that a breast was regrown. I knew science had been working on regrowing limbs but didn’t know they were so close. Are there any plans for cost and if expensive would there be scholarships or funds for those less fortunate?
Rawl
Thank you so much for your comments! I am thrilled of your enthusiasm with limb regeneration and regenerative medicine in general.
I did some research a few years back and they had some success with breast tissue regeneration in Australia but then they stopped I believe due to complications. But recently what is called ‘breast stem cell reconstruction surgery’ is showing up in the media from time to time. I think not many women know this is available and if she is willing to get a second opinion, then there is the cost and if the doctor feels if such treatment would be successful.
To answer your last question would require me to write another article about challenges of costs and the technology being available to those with the financial resources. Scholarships is something I can look into and incorporate it into my article on this.
Woww. I am always fascinated by science and how it can enable seemingly impossible things to happen. I’m just wondering, will the cells in the regenerated limb be from stem cells? I have heard that those can be used to regenerate organs, or maybe it is still a work in progress. And why did you say that regenerating nerve cells for a a lost limb may be more difficult than a hand?
Thank you and keep writing these awesome posts!
Hi Gin and thank you for your great comment. Indeed I will keep writing my posts, thanks again for the compliments. I think yes it would be from stem cells but the method they are working on in that area of research is growing the limb in the lab similar to what they are going with organs. That’s assuming it would work and be practical and safe for the patient.
The other method and most of the research on this website looks at, is stimulating the body to grow back the limb, similar to what the salamander does. This would be the ultimate holy grail as it should in theory know what is needed to be regenerated since the building instructions are already in the DNA.
In the above article they are looking at growing the new limb in the lab based on the stem cell donor and once grown, then surgically attach it to the body.
For organs, I understand they have had some success with bladders as they are not as complex but more difficult organs such as kidneys are not yet possible.
They have been using 3D printing of organs with human cells and animals parts in the lab so they are getting there. 3D printing with stem cell technologies is something I will be writing about as this is another area of regenerative medicine. Scientists are working on bio-printing new body parts.
For nerve cells, with a limb transplant, the nerves are already there so if the procedure goes well and the body excepts the transplant the existing nerves will operate. With a new limb that is grown, the nerves would have to be grown as well for the bio-limb and that part is more complex as they would have to produce the right matrix for the nerves to generate. Its a highly complex process. I could review this and update my post with more information.
Hi.5 month ago I lost my fingers and some part of my hand .it is interesting to me, this moment this printer can print a hand?
Hi Ughur,
Thank you for your comment and sorry about your injuries. There are now new emerging technologies with 3D Printing that can print human tissues and I do know a company in California whom does 3D printing of prosthetic limbs with the aim of making them more stylish and less noticeable (ie. it could look like a colorful tattoo).
The company mentioned that they intend to progress eventually into 3D Printing of human stem cells meaning that they will print the persons limb and then it would be surgically reattached. They don’t know when this would occur but they feel this is how it will progress.
Scientists are now working hard on 3D Printing of fingers, hands and organs but they are not advanced yet on making them alive and attaching them to the patient. This will happen as can be seen with the above research its certainly going to happen as things get more advanced.
I think a recent area of very compelling research is a new kind of stem cell technology that promotes the equivalent of salamander-like and newt-like flare regeneration characteristics. Many interesting discoveries and advancements are now coming out of Australia. This new breakthrough in regeneration allows bone and tissue regeneration and trials are being planned for 2017. The trials are not going to regrow lost limbs – at least not yet – but you can be sure that is where it will be heading as we travel into the next decade.
I am writing up about this new breakthrough game changer research and it will speed up the progress in eventual regeneration of limbs and organs.
Thanks,
Alexander.
I have written to Australia. but they have answered me that it isn’t there. maybe I haven’t correctly explained.do you have concrete information about this .thanks
Hi Ughur,
Thanks for your comment and questions. Are you referring to this research on bio-limb rat? As this was done in the USA in Boston, here is a link to their official research paper on bioartificial limb graft.
If you are referring to the Breast Regeneration I mentioned above in Australia, then here are some articles based on this.
The UK Guardian on ‘Breast regrowth procedure trialled for mastectomy patients’ in 2009.
Australian Melbourne Surgeons – ‘Doctors can regrow breast tissue after surgery’ in 2012.
Article on ‘Regenerative Medicine Grows A New Breast For Suzanne Somers’ – published in 2012.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks,
Alexander.
Hi Alexander,
Really I am very intrested in this regeneration.And nearly 1 or 2 months I reserch a lot of information and really get much more information about this every day and I found you site by this way.Now I have a lot of fiels and I want to share my information with you.of course if you also want.every day I find new things and when I read them,I think that it is possible and I can reach my goal but when I contact with them, they answer completely different with what I read.maybe I cant explain rite???I need your help and advice to understand them.why their articles and answers are different…
Thanks.
HI Alexandr,
Really I am very intrested in this regeneration.And nearly 1 or 2 months I reserch a lot of information and really get much more information about this every day and I found you site by this way.Now I have a lot of fiels (links/sites) and I want to share my information with you.of course if you also want.every day I find new things and when I read them,I think that it is possible and I can reach my goal but when I contact with them, they answer completely different with what I read.maybe I cant explain rite???I need your help and advice to understand them.why their articles and answers are different…
thanks.
Hi Alexander,
Really I am very intrested in this regeneration.And nearly 1 or 2 months I reserch a lot of information and really get much more information about this every day and I found you site by this way.Now I have a lot of fiels and I want to share my information with you.of course if you also want.every day I find new things and when I read them,I think that it is possible and I can reach my goal but when I contact with them, they answer completely different with what I read.maybe I cant explain rite???I need your help and advice to understand them.why their articles and answers are different…
Thanks.
I too am about to lose one of my legs just below my knee due to a bone deformity that messed up my foot and made it nearly unusable. Ive been waiting my whole life for something like this and im only 25 the one thing that would give me that push to finally end this pain and get an amputation is knowing that i could have the limb back in normal form. Im so excited for something like this i pray every night that it happens in the next ten years so i could finally live a normal active life while im still young. Would anybody have any idea of the cost of getting a new limb tho???
Hi. My friend had lost 3 toe fongers and his ring finger. Can that be regrown in todays date? If so where to contact and how much time can it take. Please guide. It would be of great help.