Authored by Tahani Nsouli
Role of Engineering in the healthcare field
Engineering plays a crucial role in healthcare by designing and developing medical devices, improving healthcare infrastructure whilst enhancing the operation and efficiency of medical devices and equipment.
The Greatest Engineering Achievements in Healthcare
1-Tissue and Organ Engineering
Tissue engineering refers to the practice of combining cells, scaffolds, and biologically active molecules into functional tissues. Tissue engineering aims to assemble functional constructs that restore, maintain, or improve damaged tissues or even whole organs. In the 21st century, developing tissues and organs on demand, either as permanent or temporary implants, is becoming a reality.
Engineered tissues such as artificial skin and cartilage have been approved by the FDA; however, they are currently of limited use in human patients. Key advancements in stem cell engineering and manufacturing — along with supporting technologies such as gene editing — are essential to sustain the growth of this approach.
Personalized predictions can soon be built using a patient’s own cells and serve as “avatars” using other forms of stem cell tools, such as organ-on-a-chip technology.
2-Nanotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
Nanotechnology is defined as the manipulation of matter on a near-atomic scale to produce new structures, materials and devices.
Nanotechnology empowers the creation and use of functionalized devices, structures, and systems optimizing specific properties of matter existing at the nanoscale. The integration of biomolecular engineering, nanotechnology, and biology holds promising future breakthroughs in cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
Nanotechnology has enhanced the function of cancer therapeutics by improving the pharmacokinetics and reducing the systemic toxicities of chemotherapies by selectively targeting and delivering anticancer drugs to tumor tissues.
According to Jake Mitchell’s blog at In-part, Scientists at the State University of New York have developed a nanocarrier platform for improved targeted drug delivery. This technology enables the effective delivery of therapeutic drugs for infectious and autoimmune diseases, as well as cancer, by enhancing stability, selectivity, and reducing unwanted immune responses.
3- Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)
CRISPR/Cas9 is a gene-editing technology which involves two essential components: a guide RNA to match a desired target gene, and Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9)—an endonuclease which causes a double-stranded DNA break, allowing modifications to the genome.
CRISPR is a promising innovative technology of various uses and stands out for editing inherited deficiencies, treating, and reducing the spread of disorders.
Recently, the creation of synthetic RNA molecules and supplying them alongside Cas9 into genome of eukaryotes have been demonstrated through reports, since distinct specific regions of the genome can be manipulated and targeted.
The therapeutic potential of CRISPR/Cas9 technology has the potential to revolutionize the field of gene therapy by enabling the precise genetic editing of patient-specific mutations. This groundbreaking technology offers new possibilities for treating previously untreatable human disorders, including inherited diseases that are resistant to conventional treatment methods.
Conclusion
Biomedical engineering, through design and creation of innovative technologies is creating significant solutions to various dilemmas faced in healthcare. Advancements such as tissue and organ engineering, nanotechnology, and CRISPR/Cas9 have enhanced patient care, improved quality of life, and opened up new possibilities for medical treatments.
Works Cited
1. Case Western Reserve University. Biomedical Engineering. (2024, April 15).
2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering |. National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.
3. Rice. Rice University. (n.d.).
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
5. Comprehensive cancer information. Comprehensive Cancer Information - NCI. (n.d.).
6. U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). National Center for Biotechnology Information.
7. Part: New nanotechnology innovations in 2021. IN. (2022, December 6).
Comments