Article: Metallic nanoflowers heal brain cells and extend lifespan in stunning new research

[Sly Saint]

Ateam at Texas A&M AgriLife Research has developed a new way to protect and potentially heal brain cells, using microscopic particles shaped like flowers.

The so-called “nanoflowers,” metallic nanoparticles engineered at the molecular scale, appear to restore the function of mitochondria, the cellular engines that power our bodies.

The study suggests this could lead to a new class of neurotherapeutic drugs. Instead of just masking symptoms of conditions like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, nanoflowers may target the root cause, mitochondrial dysfunction.
“These nanoflowers look beautiful under a microscope, but what they do inside the cell is even more impressive,” said Dr. Dmitry Kurouski, associate professor at Texas A&M and lead investigator on the project.

The research was led by Charles Mitchell, a doctoral student in the university’s biochemistry and biophysics department, and Mikhail Matveyenka, a research specialist.

Both work in Kurouski’s lab at the Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health through Agriculture.

Molecular fix for brain health​

Mitochondria convert food into energy for cells.

But in the process, they also generate harmful byproducts like reactive oxygen species, unstable molecules that can accumulate and cause damage.

To test the therapeutic potential of nanoflowers, the team exposed neurons and astrocytes, supportive brain cells, to two different types of nanoflowers.

After 24 hours, cells showed improved mitochondrial structure and quantity, along with a significant drop in oxidative stress.

“Even in healthy cells, some oxidative stress is expected,” Kurouski said. “But the nanoflowers seem to fine-tune the performance of mitochondria, ultimately bringing the levels of their toxic byproducts down to almost nothing.”

According to Kurouski, healthier mitochondria could lead to better brain function overall. “If we can protect or restore mitochondrial health, then we’re not just treating symptoms—we’re addressing the root cause of the damage,” he added.

Tiny metallic flowers show big gains in treating brain diseases

In a major brain health breakthrough, nanoflowers reduce oxidative stress and improve cell energy, pointing to new neuroprotective therapies.

interestingengineering.com

 

[Creekside]

Interesting, but while the nanoflowers improve one measured factor, it's far too early to consider it as a treatment. Some of the "bad" reactions in cells are actually vital for overall functioning, in ways that are still unknown. The health magazines imply that "ROS = bad!", but in actuality, those molecules play important roles, and if they could somehow be 100% eliminated, that might be fatal.

Then there's the question of what happens when these nanoflowers get loose in the environment. Harmless, or will mutant fleas wipe out cities? No one predicted nanoplastic problems back when plastics were the new miracles of science.

 

[Peter T]

It sounds like a quote from a surrealist poem: “metallic nano flowers heal brain cells”