I would like to discuss Robotic surgery and Gene therapy.
a a a a a a a a a a a Robotic technology in surgery has emerged in past years as an advanced method in noninvasive
surgery. Robotic surgeries have reduced the recovery period of the patient and have made the treatment
safer and more effective. The global market for robotic devices is expected to reach $15.01 billion by
2027. With the advent of AI in surgeries, human error is eliminated altogether. The robotic systems
incorporating artificial intelligence offer data collection and have analytical capabilities to remove the
limitations of human-driven robotic arms. AI-based surgical robotic systems would help Physicians make
data-driven, informed decisions during surgical procedures. Researchers have also been developing tiny
surgical robots called nanobots to cure diseases by entering the body of patients (Ghosh, 2021).
a a a a a a a a a a a Some of the challenges that come with the Robotic systems include the high cost associated with
the system itself. The large robotic units cost about 1.5-2 million and will be a big investment for any
hospital and they must determine the surgical volume before doing so, it also requires significant space in
the operating room and must be installed. The robotic systems also must be integrated with the IT systems
and EHR systems and will raise questions about patient consent and privacy issues. Even though robotic
systems have been in use since the 2000s, the future still has more potential in these areas as to robotic
devices providing more assistance to surgical teams (Smith, n.d).
Gene therapy is another area that is getting a lot of attention these days, many of its applications are still
experimental. Gene therapy is the therapeutic delivery or transfer of nucleic acid into a patient’s cells as a
drug to treat disease. According to The Journal of Gene Medicine, just over 2,700 gene therapy, clinical
trials have been conducted in thirty-eight countries around the world as of 2018 (Brophy, 2019).
a a a a a a a a a a a The approach of gene therapy is broad, with the potential treatment of diseases caused by
recessive gene disorders like cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, muscular dystrophy, and sickle cell anemia, and
acquired genetic diseases such as cancer, and certain viral infections, such as AIDS. One of the most often
used techniques in gene therapy is the use of recombinant DNA technology, in which the healthy gene is
inserted into a vector, which can be a plasmid or a virus. The possibility of genetically modifying
anything raises bioethical questions and is a topic of heated discussions and arguments. Gene therapy
remains a complex process despite several successful trials and needs the development of its techniques.
The specific body cells that require treatment must be identifiable and accessible. There should be an
effective way to then distribute the gene copies to the identified cells and their genetic makeup and the
diseases that are treated must be fully understood. If gene therapy is done on germline cells, the germ
cells; sperm, and egg are modified by the introduction of genetic material, this will be passed on to future
generations also (Goncalves & Paiva, 2017).
a a a a a a a a a a a Scalability and manufacturability are major challenges that the gene therapy industry faces. If
drugs can be manufactured at the scale they are needed, can it be done safely. It needs the collaboration of
cell and gene therapy producers and the supply companies that support them and they must develop
stronger partnerships. Another significant challenge is finding solutions for side effects and finding ways
to address high costs associated with gene therapy. Cost-effective drugs must be developed (Brophy,
2019).
References
Brophy, G. (2019). Opportunities and challenges in cell and gene therapy development. Retrieved from
https://www.genengnews.com/commentary/point-of-view/opportunities-and-challenges-in-cell-and-gene-
therapy-development/
Gonçalves, G., & Paiva, R. (2017). Gene therapy: advances, challenges, and perspectives. Einstein (Sao
Paulo, Brazil), 15(3), 369–375. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1679-45082017RB4024
Ghosh, K. (2021). Innovation of Robotic Technology for Medical Surgery: The Bright Future of Surgical
Robotic Systems. Retrieved from https://www.theproche.com/2021/08/16/innovation-of-robotic-
technology-for-medical-surgery
Smith, R. (n.d). The future of Robotics in Surgery. Retrieved from https://reproductive-
system.healthcaretechoutlook.com/cxoinsights/the-future-of-robotics-in-surgery-nid-747.html
