Technology and medicine have been intertwined for a long time. Millions of lives have been saved and many more have been enhanced as a result of constant developments in drugs and the medical industry. There is no knowing what medical advancements may be made in the future as time goes on and technology continues to grow. We’ve compiled a list of the ten most promising medical innovations due to debut in 2022.
1. MRNA TECHNOLOGY
The new vaccinations for Covid-19, which utilise mRNA technology, have placed mRNA technology in the forefront. mRNA vaccines provide an alternative to the standard vaccination strategy because of their great efficacy, fast development, and inexpensive manufacturing costs.
In the human body, the genetic information contained in DNA is encoded by messenger RNA, also known as messenger or messenger-ribonucleic acid (mRNA). By supplying a genetic code to cells, mRNA vaccines enable the body’s immune system to manufacture viral proteins, which in turn triggers an immunological response. To create mRNA vaccines for anything from cancer to Zika has received a major boost from the success of Covid-19.
To put it another way, the promise of mRNA goes beyond vaccinations. To create many types of medicines, we could use mRNA to induce a drug-like reaction in the body, which could be done using the same fundamental technique. Antibodies and other protein-based medications manufactured outside the body have been incredibly successful, but also exceedingly costly. As a result, development timelines and costs might be reduced by using mRNA technology, which directs the human body to produce proteins on its own.
2. NEUROTECHNOLOGY
In the future, neurotechnology will have a profound impact on many parts of our lives. Medical and wellness sectors are currently using it, but it has potential prospective applications in education, workplace management, and national security, to name a few.
The term “neurotechnology” refers to the broad field of research aimed at bettering our understanding of the brain, its workings, and even our ability to regulate, heal, and enhance it. There are a wide variety of equipment that may be used to intercept the electrical pulses travelling through the body, including computers and electrodes.
There are a number of neurotechnological applications in the healthcare area, including brain imaging, neurostimulation, and neurodevices, all of which employ an implant to monitor or control brain activity. For now, neurodevices are mostly a research project; nonetheless, they have the potential to help cure brain problems. Neuralink is a good illustration of this. Neuralink, a company founded by Elon Musk, is developing a device that would be implanted in the human brain and send data wirelessly to a computer, recording brain activity. These data might then be analysed by scientists and put to use in electrical stimulation of the brain. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease may be cured if this is effective. If everything goes according to plan, individuals will be implanted with Neuralink chips as early as 2022.
Despite its promise as a treatment, neurotechnology is still a contentious topic. It poses issues of data ownership and confidentiality. Neurotechnology is predicted to develop significantly in the global healthcare industry in the next years due to the increasing prevalence and identification of neurological illnesses and ailments.
3. 3D PRINTING
Printing using 3D printers is gradually becoming a trendy technology. These revolutionary printers may be utilised in healthcare to make implants and even joints that can be used in surgery. There has been an increase in the popularity of 3D-printed prostheses since they are completely customised because of their digital capabilities. Allows for a degree of comfort and movement never before seen.
As 3D printing becomes more popular for presurgical planning, so does the use of this technology. Doctors are able to do surgeries they couldn’t before because to the use of an accurate model of a patient’s anatomy. The use of 3D-printed models to design difficult surgeries and train before the operation itself has the potential to both boost success rates and minimise time in the operating room and recovery time.
Long-lasting and soluble products may be produced using printers. There are several ways in which 3D printing might be utilised to assist patients better manage their medication regimens, such as producing tablets that contain various pharmaceuticals. Bio-printing is also an emerging medical technique that may be used in conjunction with 3D printing. Far while the ability to regenerate skin cells for burn sufferers’ skin draughts seemed revolutionary at the time, it has now given rise to even more promising prospects. Blood arteries, synthetic ovaries, and a pancreas have all been created by scientists. The patient’s body grows these prosthetic organs to replace the damaged one. Patients who need life-saving transplants every year might benefit from the capacity to give artificial organs that are not rejected by the body’s immune system.
4. CRISPR
Genome editing has never been easier thanks to CRISPR, a technique developed by scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Virus-infected bacterial cells’ immune systems may be used to ‘rip out’ contaminated DNA strands, which is how it works. It is this cutting of DNA that has the potential to revolutionise the treatment of illness. Some of the greatest hazards to human health, like as cancer and HIV, may one day be addressed via genetic modification.
CRISPR may possibly be useful in the treatment of uncommon illnesses. One in a million people is born with a condition known as cystic fibrosis, which affects the respiratory and digestive systems. It is believed that the CF gene causes salt control changes in cells’ membranes, resulting in mucus thickening and other organ complications. Several clinical studies are now underway to investigate whether CRISPR can be used to fix mutations that cause cystic fibrosis. Sickle cell disease, which is similarly caused by a genetic defect, is being investigated as a potential treatment option using CRISPR. Bone marrow transplants were the only true therapeutic option for patients until recently, but CRISPR gene therapy has given them a new lease of life.
Among the numerous possible uses of CRISPR technology are the correction of genetic flaws, the treatment and prevention of disease transmission, and the enhancement of agricultural growth and resistance. It raises ethical questions about our right to “play God” and the possibility that gene-editing will be exploited to create designer babies, despite its many advantages.
5. TELEMEDICINE
Since the Covid-19 epidemic started in 2020, telehealth and telemedicine have grown more popular. Remote clinical services are the focus of telemedicine, whereas non-clinical services are the focus of telehealth. Global telemedicine industry is expected to expand from $68.36 billion in 2016 to $218.49 billion by 2026, as more people are embracing new ways of working and living after the pandemic’s impact.
There are several advantages to using telemedicine, for patients as well as doctors. Because patients don’t have to worry about things like transportation or child care, it’s a more affordable option for them as well. Additionally, it may help older persons, those who live in remote areas, and those who are unable to leave their homes. Telemedicine is also beneficial to healthcare professionals since it lowers overhead costs, limits exposure to sickness and viruses, and enables practitioners to visit more patients because they may work more flexibly.
A lot has changed in the previous two years when it comes to telehealth and telemedicine, but by 2022, virtual-care encounters will be as advanced as 1:1 doctor-patient video conferencing can go. For example, when the number of people requiring behavioural treatment for mental health issues rises, we may expect to see technology that makes it easier for groups of patients to meet and get assistance.
