Bath scientists invent 'groundbreaking' new material to help Alzheimer's patients regrow brain cells

A "groundbreaking" new material invented by experts at the University of Bath could help patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease regrow healthy brain cells.

The electrically-active material could also help the recovery of people who have sustained a spinal cord injury.

It's a 3D piezoelectric cellulose composite and was discovered by engineers, chemists and neuroscientists from the Universities of Bath and Keele.

The material forms a bespoke "scaffold" into which neural stem cells (NSCs) can be delivered to injury sites, helping to repair and regenerate neurons and associated tissues.

Central nervous system injuries, caused to the brain or spinal cord, affect millions of people worldwide and are among the most challenging medical conditions to treat. 

Dr Hamideh Khanbareh, a senior lecturer in the University of Bath’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and a member of the Centre for Integrated Materials, Processes and Structures said: “This is a groundbreaking biomaterial, which has the potential to redefine the prospects of recovery from central nervous system injuries or neurodegenerative diseases.

"It offers the hope of future treatments that could help patients regain crucial life-changing functions. 

"It also offers clinicians the possibility to create therapeutic tools for treating conditions of this type and establishes a new class of versatile biomaterials that combine mechanical, electrical and biological cues. 

"As with any new medical technology there are many steps still to take to move this from lab bench to bedside, but we are encouraged to have been able to create a new, highly sophisticated and sustainable composite that combines several desirable qualities and could be used in a range of applications."

The "scaffold" implants look like small, paper-like tubes, which could be made bespoke for individual patients. 

The structure is optimised to encourage cells to grow in a specific direction – as in a spinal cord – meaning they can repair and re-join tissue damaged by traumatic injuries.

The material is also porous, with space for new cells spaces to grow into naturally, mimicking the three-dimensional network in the body. 

It is also biodegradable by enzymes, so can be made to dissolve within the body once the implant has served its function. 

The ceramic microparticles have piezoelectric properties – meaning they create an electrical charge when placed under stress or through body movement, giving stem cells the stimulation they need to grow. 

The combination of these properties, and the way they allow a scaffold to be structured, make the material ideal as a vehicle for the delivery of neural stem cells, and for them to grow and differentiate into the functional neural cells required for repair and recovery. 

Dr Vlad Jarkov, a PhD researcher in Bath’s Department of Chemistry, was the primary investigator of the research.

He says the material offers significant potential for future bespoke treatments: "One way this could be applied would be to use a CT scan of an injury site to model a very precise 3D implant that could address a patient’s specific needs by accurately bridging the gaps caused by injury to their brain or spinal cord. 

"Focusing on finding a way to aid the growth neural stem cells is very challenging, as they are among the most complex cells in our bodies. We had to draw on a range of expertise – in mechanical engineering, chemistry, neuroscience and materials science, to reach this point. 

"As an advanced bespoke medical treatment, it requires further development to become a reality in our hospitals, but we are hopeful this is the start of finding a solution to helping the many people around the world who suffer life-altering brain and spinal cord injuries."

Future development of the composite and implants will include tests of biocompatibility and efficacy, further optimisation of the materials and freeze-casting methods and scale-up of manufacturing, as well as regulatory approval. 

The paper 3D Piezoelectric Cellulose Composites as Advanced Multifunctional Implants for Neural Stem Cell Transplantation is published today in Cell Reports Physical Science.