HOUSTON — Injections of DNA have the power to smooth wrinkles in aging skin, a new study finds. Scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center say this procedure is safer than Botox, relying on a revolutionary therapy that boosts the production of collagen.
Botox works by paralyzing muscles. Nasty side-effects can include weakness, vision or breathing problems, trouble speaking or swallowing, and loss of bladder control — depending on the site of injection. Conversely, these new shots contain messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) — single stranded copies of a small part of DNA. The molecule carries a genetic code, instructing cells to make proteins.
In experiments with bald mice, researchers exposed them to UV radiation for 60 days to cause wrinkles. After 28 days, animals receiving injections of the mRNA had the same number of wrinkles as mice that did not receive UV exposure.
To create this new treatment, study authors developed tiny carriers called EVs (extracellular vesicles) from human skin fibroblasts. The study in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering is the first to demonstrate the successful use of EVs as a pharmaceutical therapy.
“This is an entirely new modality for delivering mRNA,” says corresponding author Betty Kim, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Neurosurgery, in a university release. “We used it in our study to initiate collagen production in cells, but it has the potential to be a delivery system for a number of mRNA therapies that currently have no good method for being delivered.”
Using mRNA in medicine is a delicate process
The chemical is an extremely brittle biomolecule, making harnessing its power challenging. However, widespread deployment of mRNA vaccines to fight COVID-19 has greatly boosted its potential in medicine. Delivery requires a carrier to safeguard the fragile molecules into the target cells. This is typically done using synthetic fats that cause irritation and inflammation.
They are not always biocompatible and are difficult to direct to a specific tissue. These drawbacks do not create a significant problem for vaccines but can be limiting for other therapies.
Prof. Kim and her colleagues used EV-loaded mRNA to program skin cells to produce collagen in the lab rodents and reduce wrinkle formation. The payload replaced lost collagen in the deep dermal layers of the skin in mice experimentally aged using light. The therapeutic EVs were delivered using a microneedle array patch that was applied to the skin for 15 minutes, delivering the drug uniformly. The single injection improved collagen production in the targeted area for nearly two months.
“mRNA therapies have the potential to address a number of health issues, from protein loss as we age to hereditary disorders where beneficial genes or proteins are missing,” Prof. Kim says. “There is even the potential for delivering tumor-suppressing mRNA as a cancer therapy, so finding a new avenue to deliver mRNA is exciting. There is still work to be done to bring this to the clinic, but these early results are promising.”
Experts say the technology has the promise to serve as a universal mRNA delivery platform to treat various diseases beyond collagen replacement.
South West News Service writer Mark Waghorn contributed to this report.
I been wanting to try something that works good and gives me safer results . I would try this if they would call me in to do so ,I wonder where they are doing this ?
I am interested.
At age 71 & plenty of exposure to the the outdoors,
I believe this new procedure will be put to the test.
A positive method, putting back the skin surface to
a healthy managed appearance. And feeling medically as well
as psychologically good. Definitely would like to volunteer!
I am interested in trying this treatment, too.
I have never used Botox because the risks were too great.
My doctor recommended against Botox and I listened, but
this treatment looks promising. No harmful side effects!
I am ready for this DNA shot!
I hope it can restore skin devastated by burns, scars, disease and treatment for skin cancer in the future. Cosmetic application would be lucrative, hopefully revenue could Advance medical therapies.
At 59 I’m so interested in minimizing my wrinkles. Where is this available?
I do Botox, but I’m not very with my results and the length of time it works. Sign me up to try this new DNA shot, please
Where can I find a provider for this treatment?
Yes i will try it
Yes, I ‘m interested
Me too! I’m ready get a hold of me!
I would happily do it.
People, stop posting your personal info on websites. The person who wrote this is not the person who will do the experiments or even set them up. And it sounds like that will not be anytime soon anyway. This isn’t an advertisement for research opportunities
I too would like to sign up
I am interested. Please sign me up.
I am interested. Please sign me up.
Sign me up!
Yes please , I would really like to try this new DNA product , so many friends of mine pay for Botox , so this would be an interesting experiment to compare the difference 👍
Thank you 😁
Finally something better than Botox. I would be more than glad to try something that works better than Botox. Botox is no longer working for me the intervals for my shots are shorter and shorter.
I would be more than happy to get a call and try this
I’ve been waiting for something like this.. count me in
Please contact me if you need a person to test the shot
[email protected]
I am interested in the DNA shot now before I see any more wrinkles.
I am interested
Is it going to be available this year?
And the cost?
Thank you.
Karl
Am ready
@im ready to be an experimental s subject for this mRNA injection,patches. Call me or text me at 310 850 9958.Thank You
Very interested
Please contact me if you need a person to test the shot.
Thank you.
Yez please sign me up
I’m ready for this dna shot, call me when you are!