UK to develop “bionic” nerve for medical science

Dr. Paul Kingham and his team at the UK Center for Tissue Regeneration (UKTCR) will develop an artificial nerve made of biodegradable polymer to help bring damaged limbs and organs back to life. This “bionic” nerve is their next step in stem cell research involving fat tissue differentiated into nerve cells.

According to Dr. Kingham, the artificial nerve will essentially be rolled up into a tube-like structure and inserted between two ends of a cut nerve in a damaged limb or organ, essentially grafting the “bionic” nerve onto the cut nerve.

This will allow the regrowing nerve fiber to pass through the artificial nerve from one end to the other. The artificial nerve will then provide mechanical support and protection to the re-growing nerve, and will even encourage regeneration.

Dr. Giorgio Terenghi, Dr. Paul Kingham’s associate at the UKTCR, said that this new method involving the artificial nerve is superior to the old method, wherein patients donated their own nerve grafts to bridge the gap at the site of the injury. He explained that the old nerve graft method was far from optimal and tended to result in extra damage and the possibility of forming scars and tumors at the donor site.

Dr. Kingham hopes to use this work on artificial nerves to develop a similar surgical approach to organ transplant.  While it may not  transform a patient into a bionic person, it will go a long way in promoting the full recuperation of transplanted tissue.

Dr. Paul Kingham and his team at the UK Center for Tissue Regeneration (UKTCR) will develop an artificial nerve made of biodegradable polymer to help bring damaged limbs and organs back to life. This “bionic” nerve is their next step in stem cell research involving fat tissue differentiated into nerve cells.

According to Dr. Kingham, the artificial nerve will essentially be rolled up into a tube-like structure and inserted between two ends of a cut nerve in a damaged limb or organ, essentially grafting the “bionic” nerve onto the cut nerve.

This will allow the regrowing nerve fiber to pass through the artificial nerve from one end to the other. The artificial nerve will then provide mechanical support and protection to the re-growing nerve, and will even encourage regeneration.

Dr. Giorgio Terenghi, Dr. Paul Kingham’s associate at the UKTCR, said that this new method involving the artificial nerve is superior to the old method, wherein patients donated their own nerve grafts to bridge the gap at the site of the injury. He explained that the old nerve graft method was far from optimal and tended to result in extra damage and the possibility of forming scars and tumors at the donor site.

Dr. Kingham hopes to use this work on artificial nerves to develop a similar surgical approach to organ transplant.  While it may not  transform a patient into a bionic person, it will go a long way in promoting the full recuperation of transplanted tissue.