Progetto WfL- Wings for Life - Dott. Mainardi (DSB.AD004.352)

Thematic area

Biomedical sciences

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Institute of neuroscience (IN)

Project manager

MARCO MAINARDI
Phone number: 0503153162
Email: mainardi@in.cnr.it

Abstract

Recovery from spinal cord injury (SCI) is hampered by the low regenerative potential of damaged nerve fibers. The transplantation of stem cells which have been treated to steer their maturation into neurons has been proposed to replace lost neurons and to support regeneration of spinal cord circuits supporting limb movement. However, the efficiency of their spontaneous maturation into neurons and integration into the existing spinal milieu is often sub-optimal. Recently, our team demonstrated that magnetic nanoparticles can be uptaken by neurons with no damage, thus making these cells responsive to the application of an extremely low-intensity magnetic field. The ensuing, extremely low mechanical force dramatically stimulated the elongation of axons - the neuronal processes that carry information and command the movement of muscles.

Goals

Encouraged by these results, we are starting this project with the goal of applying this nanotechnology approach to boost stem cell-based spinal regeneration, something that had been never tried before because of the lack of appropriate enabling technologies.
We expect that the combination of nanoparticles and stem cell transplantation will enhance the

Start date of activity

01/07/2021

Keywords

spinal cord injury, stem cells, nanoparticles

Last update: 16/06/2025