Medical Design and Outsourcing

  • Home
  • Medical Device Business
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Financial
    • Regulatory
  • Applications
    • Cardiovascular
    • Devices
    • Imaging
    • Implantables
    • Medical Equipment
    • Orthopedic
    • Surgical
  • Technologies
    • Contract Manufacturing
    • Components
    • Electronics
    • Extrusions
    • Materials
    • Motion Control
    • Prototyping
    • Pumps
    • Tubing
  • Med Tech Resources
    • Subscribe to Print Magazine
    • DeviceTalks Tuesdays
    • Digital Editions
    • eBooks
    • Manufacturer Search
    • Medical Device Handbook
    • MedTech 100 Index
    • Podcasts
    • Print Subscription
    • The Big 100
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Video
  • 2022 Leadership in MedTech
    • 2022 Leadership Voting!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
  • Women in Medtech

Stem cells and graphene can regenerate nerves: Here’s how

May 18, 2017 By Danielle Kirsh

brains on a shelf

[Image from Neil Conway on Flickr]

Iowa State University researchers have developed a nanotechnology that turns mesenchymal stem cells into Schwann cells for nerve regeneration.

Schwann cells form sheaths around axons on nerves and promote regeneration of axons. They also produce substances that help promote the health of nerve cells. Both actions are helpful for researchers who are looking to regenerate nerve cells like peripheral nerve cells.

Using inkjet printers to print multi-layer graphene circuits, the researchers created a nanotechnology that mesenchymal stem cells could attach and grow on.

The mesenchymal stem cells attached and grew to the treated circuits to create 3D nanostructure. By adding small doses of 100 mV electricity for 10 minutes a day over a 15 day period, the stem cells started to become Schwann-like cells.

“This technology could lead to a better way to differentiate stem cells,” said Metin Uz, a postdoctoral research associate in chemical and biological engineering, in a press release. “There is huge potential here.”

Electrical stimulation differentiates 85% of stem cells into Schwann-like cells. The standard chemical process only differentiates 75%. Electrically differentiated cells also produce 80 ng per ml of nerve growth factor whereas chemically treated cells produce 55 ng per ml.

The researchers suggest that the graphene circuit method could help change how nerve injuries are treated inside the body.

“These results help pave the way for in vivo peripheral nerve regeneration where the flexible graphene electrodes could conform to the injury site and provide intimate electrical stimulation for nerve cell regrowth,” said the researchers in their published paper.

Graphene is a conductor of heat and electricity. It is cost-efficient, flexible and biocompatible.

The graphene circuits that were created to regenerate nerve cells had to be treated to be able to withstand high temperatures and to improve electrical conductivity.

Jonathan Claussen, an Iowa State assistant professor of mechanical engineering and lead author on the study, led a research group to create computer-controlled laser technology that could selectively irradiate inkjet-printed graphene oxide to treat the graphene circuits.

The treatment removes ink binders and graphene oxide to graphene is reduced. Millions of tiny graphene flakes are physically stitched together, making electrical conductivity more than a thousand times better.

Researchers hope that the technology could one day be used for dissolvable or absorbable nerve regeneration materials that can be surgically placed in a person’s body without the need for surgery to remove it.

[Want to stay more on top of MDO content? Subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter.]

You may also like:


  • Solar powered skin could make prosthetics better: Here’s how

  • IBS Creates a wearable graphene-based biomedical device to monitor and…

Comments

  1. George Tuzes says

    June 1, 2018 at 5:50 am

    Hi

    I am interested in this program if is available for humans as I have a peripheral nerve issue as I had ulnar nerve transposition and my nerve was crushed so I must wait until the signal reaches my hand.
    Please advise when you can.

    George

    • Chris Newmarker says

      June 5, 2018 at 5:26 pm

      Sounds like a good question for the researchers, George. Hope you’re able to find some solutions. Best wishes.

Related Articles Read More >

Mayo Clinic, W.L. Gore team up on stem cell therapy treatments
StemCell-Technologies-logo
Stemcell Technologies inks pluripotent kidney organoid culture system deal
3D-printed corneas could save millions’ vision
The best medtech funding option you’ve never heard of

DeviceTalks Weekly.

August 12, 2022
DTW – Medtronic’s Mauri brings years of patient care to top clinical, regulatory, scientific post
See More >

MDO Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Subscribe to Medical Design & Outsourcing. Bookmark, share and interact with the leading medical design engineering magazine today.

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
DeviceTalks

DeviceTalks is a conversation among medical technology leaders. It's events, podcasts, webinars and one-on-one exchanges of ideas & insights.

DeviceTalks

New MedTech Resource

Medical Tubing

Enewsletter Subscriptions

Enewsletter Subscriptions

MassDevice

Mass Device

The Medical Device Business Journal. MassDevice is the leading medical device news business journal telling the stories of the devices that save lives.

Visit Website
MDO ad
Medical Design and Outsourcing
  • MassDevice
  • DeviceTalks
  • MedTech100 Index
  • Medical Tubing + Extrusion
  • Medical Design Sourcing
  • Drug Delivery Business News
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing World
  • R&D World
  • About Us/Contact
  • Advertise With Us
  • Subscribe to Print Magazine
  • Subscribe to E-newsletter
  • Attend our Monthly Webinars
  • Listen to our Weekly Podcasts
  • Join our DeviceTalks Tuesdays Discussion

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media LLC. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Medical Design & Outsourcing

  • Home
  • Medical Device Business
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Financial
    • Regulatory
  • Applications
    • Cardiovascular
    • Devices
    • Imaging
    • Implantables
    • Medical Equipment
    • Orthopedic
    • Surgical
  • Technologies
    • Contract Manufacturing
    • Components
    • Electronics
    • Extrusions
    • Materials
    • Motion Control
    • Prototyping
    • Pumps
    • Tubing
  • Med Tech Resources
    • Subscribe to Print Magazine
    • DeviceTalks Tuesdays
    • Digital Editions
    • eBooks
    • Manufacturer Search
    • Medical Device Handbook
    • MedTech 100 Index
    • Podcasts
    • Print Subscription
    • The Big 100
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
    • Video
  • 2022 Leadership in MedTech
    • 2022 Leadership Voting!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
  • Women in Medtech