Schwann cells are important targets for stem cell therapy because they surround neural axons and can help regrow damaged or diseased nerves, potentially restoring movement to disabled arms and legs. Differentiating such cells has been difficult, but researchers at Iowa State University may have stumbled on a technique that will allow for mass production of Schwann cells.
The researchers previously developed a way of using lasers to create patterns and textures on graphene, a two dimensional material made of carbon atoms. What they discovered is that they can use this technique to motivate bone marrow stromal stem cells, which can be harvested from the very patient being treated, to differentiate into Schwann cells much faster than before.
The team created electronic circuits out of graphene using an inkjet printing technique and applied their laser treatment to the surface of the graphene. Placing the stem cells onto this surface and running 100 millivolts of current through the cells for only 10 minutes per day over fifteen days differentiated 85 percent of the stem cells into Schwann cells. This is both faster and more efficient than the previously best chemical process.
Study in Advanced Healthcare Materials: Stem Cell Differentiation: Electrical Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Schwann-Cell-Like Phenotypes Using Inkjet-Printed Graphene Circuits…
Via: Iowa State…
(Hat tip: Graphene-Info)
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