What's better than plain old neurotechnology? Why, adding another prefix, of course! A Northwestern University scientist, Dr. Samuel Stupp, is, according to nanotech people, one of the most influential minds behind self assembling nanofibers, and he is bringing that knowledge to the field of spinal regeneration. While the article is scant on details, it looks like Dr. Stupp is proposing that nanofibers can coax polysaccharides in the extracellular matrix of either damaged neurons or blockading astrocytes to channel bisected fibers through areas that would normally become scar tissue. He then goes on the extrapolate that to bone and teeth, as well as organs.
To BCIers, this is good news. Imagine being able to target specific cells to grow to specific electrodes in an array. It opens many of the options used by Dr. Phil Kennedy up to a level of extremely high precision, as regenerative/reorganizing processing can be harnessed to create the most efficient connections. Make the brain play by our rules, I say!
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