Neurons grown on the wrong substrate die. After an initial period of development at the very beginning of life, very few new neurons are produced by the adult central nervous system. The new biomaterial developed by Zhang, Holmes and colleagues seems to be an ideal substrate, or growing surface, for cells slated for replacing damaged tissue in the nervous system. Neurons attach to it and grow axons, the long tails through which they send signals. Higher magnification reveals interwoven sapeptide nanofibers that are approximately 10-20nm in diameter.
Peptides transform themselves like tiny smart Legos into millions of essential substances.
Zhang and other scientists have recently discovered that these same peptides can be tweaked into forming completely new natural materials that may be able to perform a variety of useful functions inside and outside the body. They can be made responsive to changes in acidity, mechanical forces, temperature, pressure, electrical and magnetic fields and light. They are stable at temperatures up to 350 degrees Celsius and can be produced up to a ton at a time at affordable cost. They can be programmed to biodegrade. Out of scientific curiosity, Zhang asked Holmes to test one of his self-assembling peptides for toxicity to nerve cells.