New type of artificial kidney: Let dialysis no longer be the "last card" of life-saving for patients

At present, scientists have taken the "first step in the long march" on the journey of researching new artificial biological kidneys.

Since Dutch doctor Kolff and engineer Berk jointly developed the world's first large-volume rotating drum artificial kidney in 1943, blood purification technology has made great progress and development, saving countless lives.

According to the global chronic kidney disease epidemiology report published by the world's top medical journal "The Lancet" in 2020, as of 2017, the number of chronic kidney disease patients worldwide reached 697.

At present, with the widespread application of new technologies such as nanotechnology, 3D printing, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence, important progress has been made in the research and development of new artificial kidneys, which is expected to liberate patients from dialysis.

Artificial kidney can save the lives of patients with kidney failure

Every organ in the human body performs its own function.

"Artificial kidney is a general term for devices that can simulate human kidney function for renal replacement therapy.

"Although artificial kidneys can save lives, there are also many disadvantages.

Hemodialysis patients often need to go back and forth to the hospital 3-4 times a week, and each dialysis takes 3-4 hours.

"Therefore, in recent years, the innovative research directions of artificial kidneys have mainly focused on how to improve the long-term survival rate of uremia patients, improve their quality of life, and how to save energy and protect the environment during use.

Wearable artificial kidney is expected to improve patients' lives

In recent years, researchers have been tirelessly researching and developing artificial kidneys that are more high-tech, more portable, and do not affect work and life.

With the advancement of adsorbent technology, nanotechnology and cell culture technology, wearable artificial kidneys (AWAK) weighing less than 2 kilograms have entered the stage of clinical trials.

However, since portable devices are often connected and disconnected from the human body, this may lead to the risk of infection.

"Implantable artificial kidneys (IAKs) are simulated artificial kidneys that combine silicon nanotechnology and artificially cultured biological renal tubular epithelial cells, weighing only about 0.

At present, the rapid development of computer, communication technology and Internet technology, and the successful development and application of various intelligent hemodialysis systems such as Quanta SC+ and NxStage System One have enabled home dialysis to enter the era of remote intelligence, and patients can be at home.

"In China, the expert teams of Tianjin University, Sichuan University, and the Special Medical Center of the Armed Police Force have also been committed to the research and development of small portable artificial kidneys and wearable artificial kidneys, and breakthroughs have been made in key technologies.

Artificial biological kidney may free patients from dialysis

"The artificial kidney developed at present is just a machine.

At present, scientists have taken the "first step in the long march" on the journey of researching new artificial biological kidneys.
There are scientists in 3D technology printing biological kidneys, biological kidneys cultured with stem cells, and transplanting animal kidneys to humans.
In practice.

"At present, there are still many challenges to print biological kidneys through 3D technology.
" Song Jie explained that on the one hand, the kidney structure is very complex, composed of 26 different types of cells, and to achieve or approximate the functions of natural kidneys, epithelial cells and endothelial cells Both mesangial cells and mesangial cells are required.
These cells must not only reach a sufficient number, but also be able to simulate the autocrine and paracrine functions of the natural kidney to achieve the function of transmitting biological signals; on the other hand, it also needs to have abundant human beings.
The source of kidney cells involves medical ethics; in addition, high-speed bioprinting technology with nano-scale resolution is required; finally, bioprinted kidneys must undergo rigorous physiological maturity and functional tests before being implanted in the human body.
.

At present, some researchers are carrying out experiments using decellularized kidneys as an alternative to transplanted kidneys.
Decellularization refers to the removal of all cellular materials, that is, the removal of immunogens that have negative effects, and only the scaffold structure of the kidney, including the matrix.
The structure and inherent biological connection, so that animal kidneys can also be used as a potential source of human kidney transplantation.
A progenitor cell population is re-implanted on the decellularized scaffold structure, including induced pluripotent stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and bone marrow-derived intermediates.
Mesenchymal stem cells, etc.
, form the new kidney of the human body.

Although there are still many difficulties, with the development of kidney replacement technology, these new artificial kidneys may eventually be used in clinics, allowing patients trapped in dialysis to regain a new life.