{
  "id": 3987027,
  "title": "Chinese Scientists Develop Muscle Grafts That Can Be Injected Straight Under the Skin",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/chinese-scientists-develop-muscle-grafts-that-can-be-injected",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-28T15:00:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Futurism",
    "slug": "futurism",
    "url": "https://futurism.com/health-medicine/chinese-scientists-develop-muscle-grafts-injected"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "They literally exercise themselves. The post Chinese Scientists Develop Muscle Grafts That Can Be Injected Straight Under the Skin appeared first on Futurism .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}