PubMed · 8934644
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W W Gibbs. 1996. Make a muscle.. https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican0596-33b
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Bacteriorhodopsin (BR), a membrane protein of a microorganism Halobacterium salinarium has been studied since the 80's as a potential material for information technology. The information processing applications of BR employ either photochromic or photoelectric properties of the protein. In this study we discuss about design principles and describe our study of the use of bacteriorhodopsin as a sensor material for a color sensitive artificial retina. This retina includes low-level processing of input information. The design of a color sensitive matrix element, the self-organizing color adaptation algorithm and a system model for the retina are presented.
Indwelling and implantable urologic devices did not become commercially available until the late 1970s. The first such device was a ureteral stent made of silicone. Other materials-polyethylene, polyurethane, C-Flex, and Percuflex-have since been introduced. Each of these materials is rated for a particular indwell time, after which the material may begin to break down. Various methods of modifying the surface to make it more slippery or to prevent infection have been tested. Attempts have been made to create artificial organs and have not been entirely successful, and the future may lie with tissue-engineered materials such as small intestinal submucosa.
Tissue engineering efforts are currently being undertaken for every type of tissue and organ within the urinary system. Most of the effort expended to engineer genitourinary tissues has occurred within the last decade. Tissue engineering techniques require expertise in growth factor biology, a cell culture facility designed for human application, and personnel who have mastered the techniques of cell harvest, culture, and expansion. Polymer scaffold design and manufacturing resources are essential for the successful application of this technology. In order to apply these engineering techniques to humans, further studies need to be performed with many of the tissues described. The first human application of cell-based tissue engineering technology for urologic applications took place at our institution, with the injection of autologous cells for the correction of vesicoureteral reflux in children. The same technology has been expanded to treat adult patients with urinary incontinence. Trials of urethral tissue replacement with processed collagen matrices are in progress, and bladder replacement using tissue engineering techniques are currently being arranged. Recent progress suggests that engineered urologic tissues may have clinical applicability in the future.