Medical biotechnology is a new word, the modern stage of human development. Unprecedented developments allow to raise a person to the next degree of social evolution. After all, they allow you to radically change the vector of development. In order not to be limited to general phrases, the narration of the article will be based on data provided by the Republican Scientific Practical Center for Transfusiology and Medical Biotechnology in Minsk.
Introductory information
Humanity is in its heyday. In preventive and clinical medicine, exponential progress is observed, as well as in the pharmaceutical industry. This is facilitated by outstanding achievements in biotechnology, as well as a number of other areas of science and technology. What yesterday seemed like science fiction, today is gradually entering our lives. Innovations in information, genetic and other technologies have the ability to ensure victory in the fight against many diseases. How? For example, making adjustments to the human genome can increase life expectancy. The restoration or replacement of aging organs thanks to regenerative medicine will also positively affect everyone who has undergone this treatment. Pregnancy outside the walls of the womb? Correctable. Examine and remotely consult patients? Is quite real.
About drugs used
The greatest progress was made in pharmaceuticals. Her achievements include the following drugs:
- Semi-synthetic / natural antibiotics that can inhibit the growth of living cells. As an example, inhibitors of cell biosynthesis, RNA (at the polymer level, folic acid metabolism, DNA matrix), and violators of molecular organization can be cited.
- Steroid hormones. They have anti-cancer, anabolic, contraceptive and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Mono - and complex drugs, which are used as the basis of amino acids. As an example, glycine, glutamine, methionine, raveron, rumalon, thymogen, cerebrolysin, cysteine, embryoblast can be cited.
- Water and fat soluble vitamins with high biological value and serving as active catalysts of metabolic processes in the body. As an example, group B, as well as C, A, E, K.
- Probiotics that optimize microbiological status. These include lactobacilli, bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria, enterococci (some of their strains).
- Leukocyte and recombinant interferon, which is suitable for the treatment of viral hepatitis and the like problems.
- Enzymes involved in biochemical reactions in living organisms. As an example, we can recall transferases, lyases, isomerases, hydrolases, ligases.
- Vaccines that enhance the protective functions of the immune system against pathogenic viruses and destructive organisms. They can even be obtained using recombinant DNA technology.
Anti aging
Speaking of what medical biotechnology is, one cannot ignore its exceptional contribution to counteracting the decrepitation process. This is possible thanks to discoveries in molecular biology, decoding of the human genome and unraveling the structure of DNA, as well as a number of other successes. Their practical widespread use is close to embodiment. Gene diagnostics and gene therapy in the coming decades will firmly enter our lives. They will make it possible to qualitatively improve medical care and, already at the embryonic stage, to identify and eliminate in the gentle mode the rudiments of certain diseases (oncological, genetic, infectious).
What is nanobiotechnology?
This direction deserves special attention in the context of the problems under consideration. Almost any medical biotechnology center is interested in excellent results. And as often happens, they can be obtained at the junction of different areas of work. Such a union was the synthesis of bio- and nanotechnology. For example, targeted drug delivery using nanocapsules. What is not an option? Surgical operations using high-precision instruments, manufacturing bioreactors for growing stem cells, creating probe microscopes and biosensors, filtering body fluids from harmful substances through membranes with nanopores, antibacterial dressings impregnated with a substance that allows you to instantly stop bleeding - all this is far from the limit .
About Discussion Aspects
It should be noted that the RSPC of transfusiology and medical biotechnology is functioning not without problems. After all, activity involves working with a number of discussion issues. If you list them all, you get a substantial list in size. Therefore, it is more advisable to simply highlight the most important points:
- Insufficient knowledge of the consequences of genetic manipulation.
- Difficulties in determining the limits of permissible anthropogenic interference in ongoing biological processes.
- Moral and ethical ambiguities of ongoing activities from the standpoint of human dignity and self-perception.
If medical biotechnology can provide successful and satisfying answers to these questions and challenges, then in this case there will be all the prerequisites for their safe use. And then everyone will be able to realize how far-reaching and independent a step towards controlled evolution has been taken.
Training specialists
In our age of machines and robots, humanity has learned the hard and monotonous work of entrusting its unconscious assistants. But, alas, the fields of research and scientific development are too complex to transfer to mechanical and electronic devices. And here, as nowhere else, the statement that cadres decide everything is relevant. Therefore, a separate specialty was introduced - medical biotechnology. In training, it is necessary to study the fermentation, cultivation of microorganisms, individual animal and plant cells, as well as genetic engineering. So, if we talk about the latter, then it is necessary to mention the diagnosis and identification of small life forms. Additionally, she works on the cloning and sequencing of genes, as well as their chemical analysis.
How does the center of transfusiology and medical biotechnology work?
Suppose researchers have a specific task. In this case, the question of how to fulfill it and achieve its goals becomes relevant. Depending on the working factor, physical and chemical methods are distinguished, and by the nature of the effects, they are non / selective (in the first case, this is disinfection and sterilization, in the second - chemotherapeutic).
Let's look at what the first option is. Physical methods are understood as follows:
- Heat treatment. This is piercing, pasteurization, boiling, autoclaving.
- Irradiation (gamma, x-ray, ultraviolet, microwave).
- Filtration (passage of a substance through certain barriers and materials having, for example, pores of 200 nanometers).
Among the chemical methods distinguish:
- Nonspecific action. Used for room treatment and as antiseptics. Examples include iodine, chlorine, aldehydes, alcohols, salts of heavy metals, alkalis and acids, cationic detergents, oxidizing agents, phenols.
- Selective drugs. These include drugs that suppress a certain aspect of life. First of all, you should remember about antibiotics, as well as chemotherapeutic drugs.
Medical and environmental biotechnologies involve the widespread use of various tools. Therefore, a detailed description of the general provisions of their work and application is indispensable. And antibiotics will act as an object of consideration.
How is work done?
Let's say we have a cluster of medical / environmental instrumentation and biotechnology. We have several thousand substances classified as antibiotics. But in reality, a much smaller number is used as the basis for the preparations. This is due to existing requirements restricting the use of:
- Must be effective in low concentrations.
- It is necessary to ensure stability in the body and different storage conditions.
- Low toxicity (or none at all) should be observed.
- A prerequisite is the presence of a pronounced bactericidal and / or bacteriostatic effect.
- Pronounced side effects should not be observed.
- There is no immunosuppressive effect.
If there are no problems with this, then the laboratories and institutes of medical biotechnology proceed to the next stage, which consists in the fact that antibiotics are separated by their origin, orientation, spectrum and mechanism of action.
Classification Example
Depending on the spectrum of action, antibiotics are isolated:
- Antitumor. An example is Rifampicin.
- Anti-tuberculosis. An example is Kanimycin and Streptomycin.
- Antifungal. These are Nystatin, Amphoterricin, Nizoral, Levarin.
- Broad-spectrum antibiotics. These are Streptomycin and Neomycin.
- Drugs acting on gram-positive microflora. These include Penicillin and Erythromycin.
- Drugs acting on gram-negative microflora. The most famous representative is Polymyxin.
What about other developments?
The directions of medical biotechnology are so numerous and diverse that it is not possible to try to develop a universal prescription for all of them. For example, approaches applied to antibiotics are of little use in genetic engineering. This applies not only to research, but also to reproduction and improvement of developments. For example, medical biotechnology of antibiotics is already well studied. And we now have many drugs that can fight the worst diseases. But here is the correction of genetic problems - alas, it so far is weak.
Another example of activity
A very promising area of work is now considered genetic engineering. Just think - with its help you can overcome many diseases and negative conditions of human health. Down syndrome, a tendency to problems of the cardiac system and many other troubles can be solved through gene therapy or will be minimized. It will not be necessary to wait until immunity develops among generations of people (which is accompanied by numerous deaths). It will be enough to go through something like a series of injections - and the person will have the problem solved, and immunity will also appear.
Conclusion
Technology in the field of medicine opens up great opportunities for us. Today, humanity, as never before, is close to decisively getting rid of diseases and physical defects that have been plaguing thousands of years. Paradoxical as it may seem, but our movement towards this goal is not as fast as we would like. Why? Here you can recall the commercial focus of research institutions, existing legislative restrictions and the misuse of existing technologies. An example of the latter situation is the use of antibiotics. These drugs are fairly widespread and often dispensed without prescription. In many backward countries, their use and sale are generally poorly regulated or not limited at all. Therefore, antibiotics are often used without a doctor's prescription and in the wrong dosage (too small or in violation of time limits). And all this contributes to the fact that microorganisms develop resistance, and medications lose their properties.