There is a good reason why astronauts do not keep on the international space station longer than six months: Microgramvity is not good at human bodies. Among the other side effects, it can flatten the eyeballs and swelling to the fingers and faces, causing the head of the head of the head as blood, organs and cells they do not do in the world.
Despite the same reasons, space can be a perfect place to study cancer – and in the coming day also treats it.
This year, tumors growing in laboratories WORLD GoSS ISSSA IS FIRST IN THE PRIESS PRIESS TO USE ATTICIAL ORICS FOR CANCER TRIVING IN SPACE. Wake Forest University scientists work to develop cancer tests tests faster and more sensitive. But the more important to their experiment can be as a test run for a raft with other biomedical projects planned for low-grabs cell growth.
“Microgreguvity is an accelerator of conditions. Every disease, every phenotype – all we want to study will be less than time,” says Davide Marotta, program director In-Space biomanufacturing in the DESS National Laboratory. “Instead of waiting 10 months, you can go (in space) in 10 days” to see the same biological effects, he added.
In the world, gravity slowed down cancer development because cells usually need to be attached to a face to move and grow. But in space, cluster clusters of cancer can expand in all directions such as bubbles, like budding yeast or grape, Shay Science Program Officer said to Wake up to the InstaWute in the forest for Regenerative Medicine.
Because bubbles grow older and easier in space, researchers are easily tested components that stick to the edge of bigger bubbles, too. The University of Notre Dame scientists take advantage of this quirk to develop a cancer test of space needing a drop of blood. Job builds in a series of bubble-formation formation experiments that have been made.
“If the cancer screening with our bubble technology in the space is committed and makes it inexpensive, and everyone can be screened,” said Tengei Luo pioneering technology, talking about the issue of issue, Upwards. “It’s something we can combine with annual exams. It sounds earned, but it can.”
Protect astronauts from Space Travel Risk Risks Another important priority for biomedical researcher working with NASA. Of issues and other missions in space, astronauts not only faced all physiological changes in relation MicrogrgeviveyBut also the dangers of cosmic radiation, which can shock the DNA of human cells.
cosmonaut Frank Rubio Holds NASA record for maximum periods allotted to space in 371 days, with Russian russia days volunteering to continue traveling and from Mars. But NASA’s overall rule is that astronauts should try to decrease their orbit time to reduce health risks.
“For astronauts who return to the world, they have difficulty moving,” as Ben Soareswhich studied medicine in the space of Boston University. “Even sitting in a chair involves muscles. Everyone fell outside if you don’t use it.”
A study of astronauts twin Scott and Mark Kelly Scott finds old faster than his brother, staying in the world while Scott is in space. Microgruvity Scotts Genetics also changed, Switch to some genes on or off.
Cancer risks are likely to be higher for astronauts, and not only because Radiation can cause DNA mutations. Cell membranes are targeted at small proteins called microtubules that inhibit cell form, even if the gravity of repeating issues is only 10% of the quality of it.
In the world, microtubule insured that chromosome in a cell changes the structure. But Microgravivut distorts microtubules and can lead to irregular cell division, making cancer more likely.
“You may think (astronauts) just floating in space, but all microtubules, and the main changes to the outer membrane,” says Microgramevivity, “people think that is so much if the changes are happening to a genetic level.”
However, these genetic effects also make unique opportunities for researchers who seek new tests on diagnosis and treatment. For example, if scientists can refer to which genes Micrograme turn, then they can activate it or activate for patient cancer patients.
Pharmaceutical Research can also benefit. In orbit, drug companies can easily accelerate a process of examination and test that is usually many years before medicinal treatment and medicine administration. While the cost of in-orbit testing falls, it can be a significant way to evaluate all drugs without spending many years waiting to see if Marotta in the National Laboratory.
“Every person has a different response to the same medicine,” says Marotta. “We have drug resistance, failure of therapists, etc., space costs will be lower and lower in the future.”
Chemotherapy patients can also save valuable time, too. In normal gravity, they usually spend a half hour tied with a needle before the medicine starts, because most drugs do not melts water. But Merck scientists discovered That is, in space, their widespread used drug pembrolizumum, or keytruda, can be served by a simple molecules commonly suspended by micrukevity.
However, however, Merck did not find a way to handle its drug by injection of the earth. Similarly, blood test developed by Notre Dame Researcher only works in space, with no ability to simulate small gravity in the world.
These limits raise questions when patients in a few days will be discussed in space to take advantage of lower gravity. This is not a perfectly thoughtful idea, according to asking, though he acknowledges that it is forbidden to be expensive for today. The ISS is currently seven astronauts, and Excoke apparently charged with tourist spaces approximately $ 55 million for a three to eight days trip to Low orbit of the ground. Hope is that that costs come below the future.
The next big step, according to Sker, can be an orbiting facility dedicated to researching treatments for cancer and other weakening circumstances. “We may know who patients can benefit from around the space,” he said. “If you put some million dollars (in cancer treatment), I mean, you should definitely help you.”
In a few days, Microgreguvity can even even recover patients that can heal from surgery to heal the strength of their land, Sker added. “Faster fixing the long pressure. That’s hyperbaric treatment for wounds.”
Before they can pray to a new generation of laboratory laboratories, however, researchers are pressured to press the most one they have today – but no longer available. The ISS is issued Destruction of 2031After more than three decades of the orbit, scientists have only been given a few additional years to carry out their tests on the hopes of medical blasts. “It runs like this course,” says Sker.
The main task is now, he says, is for teams such as delivering practical research results that can open the fund in subsequent space research. Researchers benefit from a recent increase in support of Government in the US government Initiative to Cancer Mounshotof dollar research to enjoy ways to help patients bind on earth as well as astronauts.
For the Momet Forest Experiment, scheduled to launch the next spring, scientists cut two sections of a cancer rescue from 20 patients. A sample will remain in the world while other heads are issues, with scientists observing the difference. The test will be completed within a week, to prevent any interference from cosmic radiation.
If you succeed, streak, it can put stage for discardic cancer tests in space available in the overall population – perhaps in a Biomedical Space Station to launch after the planned death of ISS.
“Can we design a special cancer space station dedicated to cancer and maybe other diseases?” The shock asked, answering his commitment question. “Pharmautical companies with deep pockets will definitely support the program.”
