The Emerging Role of Nanotechnology in Cell and Organ Transplantation

Abstract

Transplantation is often the only choice many patients have when suffering from end stage organ failure. Although the quality of life improves after transplantation, challenges such as organ shortages, necessary immunosuppression with associated complications and chronic graft rejection limits its wide clinical application. Nanotechnology has emerged in the past two decades as a field with the potential to satisfy clinical needs in the area of targeted and sustained drug delivery, non-invasive imaging, and tissue engineering. In this paper, we provide an overview of popular nanotechnologies and a summary of the current and potential uses of nanotechnology in cell and organ transplantation.

What’s hot, what’s new: Report from the American Transplant Congress 2017

“…85 Studies presented by Abdi group showed that immunosuppressive drugs could be packaged in nanoparticles and selectively delivered to the graft-draining lymph nodes where T cell priming occurred. 85 Studies presented by Abdi group showed that immunosuppressive drugs could be packaged in nanoparticles and selectively delivered to the graft-draining lymph nodes where T cell priming occurred.…”

“…85 Studies presented by Abdi group showed that immunosuppressive drugs could be packaged in nanoparticles and selectively delivered to the graft-draining lymph nodes where T cell priming occurred. With advanced nanomaterials and sophisticated design of nanoparticles and nanosensors, 85 nanotechnology appears to be poised to substantially advance transplant science. 86 This approach substantially extended allograft survival without systemic exposure of the immunosuppressive drugs in transplant recipients.…”

“…Nanomedicine combines advanced material science and biotechnology, and promises to deliver significant impact in the field of organ transplantation, especially in the areas of drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and graft prognosis. 85 Studies presented by Abdi group showed that immunosuppressive drugs could be packaged in nanoparticles and selectively delivered to the graft-draining lymph nodes where T cell priming occurred. This site-specific drug delivery was accomplished by designing nanoparticles with a guiding antibody that specifically recognizes the high endothelial venues in the host draining lymph nodes.…”

“…86 This approach substantially extended allograft survival without systemic exposure of the immunosuppressive drugs in transplant recipients. With advanced nanomaterials and sophisticated design of nanoparticles and nanosensors, 85 nanotechnology appears to be poised to substantially advance transplant science.…”

Energy Band Gap Investigation of Biomaterials: A Comprehensive Material Approach for Biocompatibility of Medical Electronic Devices

“…Such monitoring may also be important after organ transplantation [13]. It has been shown that one of five patients on the U.S. organ transplantation list who have previously received a transplanted organ lost it owing to chronic rejection by the immune system [14]. Real-time monitoring systems could enable physicians to diagnose such events early, leading to prompt intervention.…”