Researchers are reporting (also at Science Direct) some success in the creation of 'Bionic Nerves' at the University of Manchester. Reading the blurbs, there isn't much 'bionic' about it - they are cultivating fat tissue stem cells to become nerves. The initial results in animals look promising and they are already talking human trials on the very near horizon. About friggin time! Some stem cells, a little ECM, and we're talking some important real-world applications of science. (Yes, I know the picture is for sensory, and not motor nerves, but I like it!)
Here's a link to the actual study:
Adipose-derived stem cells differentiate into a Schwann cell phenotype and promote neurite outgrowth in vitro.
Kingham PJ, Kalbermatten DF, Mahay D, Armstrong SJ, Wiberg M, Terenghi G.
Exp Neurol. 2007 Oct;207(2):267-74. Epub 2007 Aug 2.
1 comment:
Interesting- I haven't read the paper yet (no antipaywall vector available at the moment), but it sounds like we're on our way from converting biomass into 'sense'. Has a poetic tone to it, doesn't it?
- Bryan
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