EVANSTON, Ill., Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Scientists at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., have designed synthetic molecules that promote neuron growth.
The study's authors describe their findings as "a promising development that could lead to the reversal of paralysis due to spinal cord injury."
"We have created new materials that because of their chemical structure interact with cells of the central nervous system in ways that may help prevent the formation of the scar that is often linked to paralysis after spinal cord injury," researcher Samuel Stupp said in a statement.
The scientists grew nerve cells using an artificial three-dimensional network of nanofibers, an important technique in regenerative medicine.
The results of the study were published online Thursday by the journal Science.
"We have shown that our scaffold selectively and rapidly directs cell differentiation, driving neural progenitor cells to become neurons and not astrocytes," said Stupp, who led the research team.
"Astrocytes are a major problem in spinal cord injury because they lead to scarring and act as a barrier to neuron repair."