Chinese Scientists Develop Muscle Grafts That Can Be Injected Straight Under the Skin
They literally exercise themselves. The post Chinese Scientists Develop Muscle Grafts That Can Be Injected Straight Under the Skin appeared first on Futurism .
In 1984, William Gibson’s sci-fi novel "Neuromancer" introduced the concept of "joeboys" – nearly identical young men with grafted, bulging muscle. Now, Chinese scientists have brought that idea closer to reality. According to a new paper published in the journal Nature Aging, researchers have developed self-exercising muscle grafts designed to be injected under the skin.
The grafts could benefit bedridden patients, age-related conditions, and those with muscle atrophy, offering a shortcut to fitness without the need for physical exertion. These myografts, formed from modified muscle cells, led to mature, vascularized structures that self-contract continuously in mice. They improved whole-body muscle mass, function, and metabolic and regenerative outcomes in aging and obese mouse models.
Professor Ng Shyh-Chang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Zoology explained that the grafts could provide a major advantage for those with limited mobility, mimicking the benefits of exercise while avoiding potential negative effects. The myografts also produced therapeutic proteins like growth hormones and GLP-1s, which can counteract bone or muscle loss without observed side effects.
Unlike transplanting entire organoids, the scientists injected cells that self-organized into myografts, contracting continuously and persistently secreting beneficial factors into the bloodstream. While the grafts remain stable and the risk of tumor-like growth is low, the scientists emphasize that clinical trials are necessary to determine the safety and effectiveness of the approach in humans.
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