A biocompatible conducting polymer stimulates the changes needed for nerve regeneration
Friday, October 31, 2014 - 08:01
in Physics & Chemistry
Promoting the guided regeneration of nerve cells could transform the treatment of a vast range of debilitating conditions, including brain injuries, nerve damage and degenerative neurological diseases. Electrically stimulating the outgrowth of 'neurites'—new projections from nerve cells—is a promising avenue of research, but it has been hampered by immune rejection and scar tissue insulating the electrodes from the targeted cells. Progress has reached a bottleneck because traditional electronic materials, mostly metals and semiconductors, are unable to provide the biocompatibility and mechanical strength needed for stable electrical transmission.