Scientists in Bochum and Dortmund have developed a synthetic cell environment that may enhance nerve regeneration. Injuries to the brain and spinal cord often lead to fluid-filled cavities and scars, hindering tissue repair. Dr. Kristin Glotzbach and Professor Andreas Faissner from the Department of Cell Morphology and Molecular Neurobiology in Bochum collaborated with Professor Ralf Weberskirch and Dr. Nils Stamm from the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at TU Dortmund University. Their research, published in the journal ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, focused on cultivating neural stem cells from mouse embryonic brains on positively charged hydrogels. The goal was to replicate the brain’s natural cell environment. The experiments demonstrated that the positively charged hydrogels improved cell survival and influenced their development into nerve or glial cells based on the strength of the positive charge. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize nerve regeneration.
2024-02-20 10:00:07
Article from phys.org