It sounds too good to be true: a substance called Pixie Dust that is capable of re-growing human limbs. But it’s real, and it’s already being used by surgeons to save wounded soldiers in Afghanistan. The powder, which is actually made up of a collagen-filled substance from pig bladder called extracellular matrix, has previously been used to regrow human bladders, and now it’s set to revolutionize the treatment of amputated limbs.
Scientists aren’t sure why pig bladder has such a unique quality, but they think that the Pixie Dust attracts cells in the body and signals for them to generate new tissue. The miraculous material has passed beyond the research stages — surgeons are treating soldiers in Houston, Texas, who might otherwise have faced amputation. And while the powder isn’t widely used quite yet, the Pentagon is investing millions in research so that Pixie Dust might one day be the treatment of choice for injured soldiers everywhere.
Via UK Daily Mail
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Shatner did a pretty good show on this stuff and yes, there were two cases – the kid and the older man. However scientists are a long way from thinking it works in more than the odd case. They are researching it, along with stem cells (which have more promise) and there is no doubt limb and organ regeneration will come. Just not yet.
this is real it actually does regenerate limbs that you’ve lost examples are a little kid and a 64 year old man both lost a finger and a doctor put this on every 48 hours and within 2 weeks it was regrowing. you can not say this doesn’t work. ECM stimulates cells and causes them to multiply in specific ways and regrow parts of the body that normally wouldn’t. this isn’t;t science fiction.
here’s a interesting fact pixie dust a.k.a ECM might be a key to living forever or at least living longer and looking young longer.
[...] windows and doors, he envisions sphincter muscles that can open and close. Current prototypes are pig skin cells grown around a recycled PET plastic [...]
This post is from the Daily Mail. Possibly one of the most unscientifically accurate publishers in the WORLD.
This story came out in 2008 – not from health or science correspondants but from non-specialist, generalist journalists. Furthermore, it quotes a study from 2005, therefore not having to provide any techical details in the current report.
Pixie dust?? Come on..
its really very nice product which save the life
The substance doesn’t allow limbs to regrow – it encourages cell growth so that damaged limbs don’t have to be amputated in the first place.