Growing neurons at the nanoscale
The Research: Researchers can coax natural proteins like collagen to form microscopic fibers only 10 to 20 nanometers wide. These fibers form a structure on which stem cells grow into neurons. In a recent study, fiber networks were implanted into damaged live tissue and helped repair hamtsters’ optic nerves.
Advantages: Tiny fibers are more likely to be accepted by the human body than bigger materials, which often get rejected and result in less tissue repair. Fiber networks are also three-dimensional, which promotes growth in all directions.
Why It Matters: Materials with small features interact better with individual neurons because they resemble the natural structures in the body. Nano-sized guides can support specific and accurate growth where nerve cells have been damaged or destroyed. They can also prevent scar formation.
Next Steps: Researchers need to determine how the size and structure of nanomaterials affect cell growth and find materials that are non-toxic and biodegradable once they are inside the human body.
"Nano neuro knitting: Peptide nanofiber scaffold for brain repair and axon regeneration with functional return of vision"
