In its broadest sense, biotechnology has been around for centuries. Agriculture and animal breeding can be defined as some of the earliest areas, with novel drugs and pest-resistant crops representing more recent advancements. So what exactly is biotechnology and where is the industry headed? Keep reading as we dive into six technologies that are revolutionizing our health.
What is biotechnology?
Biotechnology – or biotech for short – is an industry focused on leveraging living organisms to create commercial products. Medicine and pharmaceuticals are a few areas where biotech plays a large and well-known role and is also applied in food production, biofuel production, and genomics. At its core, biotech combines several disciplines including biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, science, and technology. Modern biotechnology can be credited with making significant contributions to the advancement and longevity of human life including methods for combating disease, producing higher crop yields, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to say that the biotech industry helps to save, extend, and improve our lives on a daily basis and it’s important to understand the next wave of technologies that will improve our lives.
Six innovations to watch
The best and brightest minds work in the biotech industry and are constantly innovating new products so we’ve gathered only a small list of revolutionary technologies that have the potential for significant impact and usage.
- BMI. Brain-Machine Interface – or BMI – links brain or muscle stimuli with a computer. This technology offers many benefits for overcoming physical limitations such as disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and paralysis. The technologies being developed in this area could change how we use computers – or even our bodies.
- Targeted treatments. One of the most used treatments for cancer is chemotherapy, which destroys both healthy and cancerous cells, resulting in sometimes debilitating side effects for patients. But the advancement of targeted treatments could change all of that, including starving cancerous cells of nutrition by preventing the formation of blood vessels while keeping healthy cells intact. Additionally, these treatments not only behave differently from one type of cancer to another, but from one patient to another. This can mean more tailored and effective treatments for patients.
- Augmented reality. When used in surgery, augmented reality can minimize the risk of damage to surrounding organs or tissues and increase the chances of the procedure’s success. By using cameras, sensors, and processing units, surgeons can more easily zero in on the target location and have a holistic view of the body.
- Cell and gene therapy. This technology provides a way for scientists and doctors to treat a living organism without the need for surgery. For example, the CRISPR gene-editing technique can help treat cell mutations that can cause diseases such as cancer, autism, and hemophilia. There is still much to learn about the human genome so it’s still a relatively nascent field with much more development and learning to be had. There are also some legal and ethical landmines (such as genome-edited babies) to navigate, but in the meantime, techniques such as CRISPR are already under development or in use.
- Telemedicine. This area consists of two areas: 1) providing patients with online medical assistance and 2) electronic medical records. Many of us have already become accustomed to the ease and convenience of online medical visits which saves patients and doctors time and can help keep germs at bay. During the COVID-19 shutdowns, telehealth visits were sometimes the only safe way to get medical help. Electronic medical records can help to significantly lower the cost of healthcare and allow for better and faster innovation while respecting one’s privacy. Many companies, and a few governments, have jumped on the bandwagon such as the e-health company Belgian-American Andaman7, which allows patients to create a personal health record on their smartphone.
- Artificial organs. One of the biggest barriers for patients who need a transplanted organ is finding a compatible donor. Patients could wait years before an appropriate donor is found, and that can sometimes come too late. But thanks to 3D-printed organs, this could happen less frequently. 3D printers use bio-ink, a printable material made from living cells that can be used to model tissues. These contain one, or many, types of cells which are blended with suspension cells. These cells then guide them toward their purpose. So far, hearts, kidneys, livers, corneas, and bones are some of the successfully 3D-printed organs which are available to patients.
The future is now
There are likely even more technologies and procedures under development that we can only imagine (or think only exist in a sci-fi movie) but these six advancements are already advancing the field by leaps and bounds. Innovation in the biotech industry could mean living years longer, overcoming physical limitations, making surgeries easier and more accurate, and so much more. This is definitely an industry to watch as digital technologies make the future possible.
At AscentCore, we build world-class digital products that can help advance companies in the biotech industry. If you’re looking for a partner to help create exceptional solutions for your business, contact us today.