Research reported recently in the journal Advanced Materials describes a potentially promising strategy for encouraging the regeneration of damaged central nervous system cells known as neurons.The technique would use a biodegradable polymer containing a chemical group that mimics the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to spur the growth of neurites, projections that form the connections among neurons and between neurons and other cells. The biomimetic polymers would then guide the growth of the regenerating nerve.

Yadong Wang, assistant professor in the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University (right), and graduate student Christiane Gumera (left) have developed a potentially promising strategy for encouraging the regeneration of damaged central nervous system neurons. Gumera points to a fluorescence image that indicates the presence of proteins required for nerve regeneration. Photo by Gary Meek

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