American researchers have developed the very first prototype of an artificial bio-kidney which works autonomously and promises to lighten the lives of people on dialysis.
- Once in place, this new kidney requires no additional treatment, whether immunosuppressive or anticoagulant.
- The artificial kidney is made up of two parts: the hemofilter and the bioreactor, to ensure its filter and regulator activities.
- The lifespan and operation of the device will be tested over the long term.
This is a step forward that looks like a small revolution. After years of research, American researchers from the University of California have succeeded in developing the very first prototype of an artificial kidney that works independently, without the need for a power supply or additional medication. This is only a first step but it is a real light at the end of the tunnel for patients who suffer from chronic renal failure and who need regular dialysis.
No additional treatment
The development of an artificial kidney is a real feat, as renal function is so complex and diversified. Besides its activity of filtering toxins and blood waste, the organ regulates blood pressure, electrolyte concentrations among other bodily fluids. As proof, when both kidneys are dysfunctional, maintaining its activity requires extremely heavy treatment for patients. The latter must carry out regular dialysis which occupies them for several hours three days a week. They can also undergo surgery and the implantation of a new kidney, but this means having to take immunosuppressive treatment for life to avoid rejection, which weakens the body which becomes more vulnerable to infections.
To compensate for the heaviness of these treatments, researchers gathered in the Kidney Project at the University of California have been working for several years on the design of an artificial kidney. On September 9, they announced that they had succeeded in implanting their bio-artificial kidney for the first time in a pre-clinical model. Once in place, this new kidney does not require any additional treatment, whether immunosuppressive or anticoagulant, as is generally the case during a transplant.
A two-part device
Concretely, the artificial kidney is composed of two parts: the hemofilter and the bioreactor. The first consists of semi-conducting silicon membranes that remove waste products from the blood and protect against attack by the patient’s immune system. The bioreactor contains modified kidney tubule cells that regulate water volume, electrolyte balance, and other metabolic functions. The device is connected to the patient’s two main arteries — one that carries the blood to be filtered and the other that reinjects it into the body — as well as to the bladder, where waste is deposited in the form of urine.
The lifespan and operation of the device will be tested over the long term before being able to imagine its marketing. “Our team has designed an artificial kidney capable of sustainably supporting a culture of human kidney cells without causing an immune responsewelcomes Shuvo Roy, principal researcher of the project. Now that we have demonstrated the feasibility of the hemofilter and bioreactor combination, we can focus on scaling up the technology for more rigorous preclinical testing, and ultimately, clinical trials.”
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