Nerves of the central nervous system (CNS) do not readily regenerate after an injury or a neurodegenerative disease as compared to the nerves of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Hence, new regenerative strategies need to be developed to treat brain and spinal cord injuries. A study published recently in Advanced Science highlights the use of a new 3D printed biomaterial that mimics brain tissue and can regenerate neurons to treat neurodegenerative diseases of the brain and spinal cord injuries.
The molecules of typical biomaterials like polymer hydrogels cannot self-assemble. However, molecules of the new 3D printed material can self-assemble due to their ability to interact with each other; these interactions are called host-guest complexes , which allow the molecules to travel a long distance, forming large superstructures called ‘walking’ molecules. The host-guest complexes are…
