Research report 2019 - Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research
How nerves can grow
Authors
Synatschke, C.V.; Weil, T.
Departments
Arbeitskreis "Synthese von Makromolekülen", Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung, Mainz
Summary
Injuries resulting from severed nerve tracts are difficult to treat sometimes requiring complex operations. We have asked ourselves: Would it be possible to stimulate nerve cells to grow using tailor-made materials? This would help the cells to close a gap in theinjured nerve. In the laboratory, we have produced an artificial material that may solve this problem and provide an alternative to surgery in the future.