Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Nanoflowers Double Stem-Cell Mitochondria, Restore Energy in Lab Tests

A PNAS paper from Texas A&M reports molybdenum disulfide particles that trigger mitochondrial biogenesis, with translation to patients still untested.

Overview

  • In cell studies, nanoflower-treated stem cells produced about twice the usual number of mitochondria and transferred two to four times more of them to nearby damaged cells.
  • Recipient cells regained energy output and showed stronger survival, including after chemotherapy-like stress.
  • The nanoparticles are roughly 100 nanometers across and made of molybdenum disulfide, which persists in cells longer than small molecules.
  • Researchers say the approach operates without genetic modification or conventional drugs and could enable less frequent dosing, potentially monthly.
  • The findings, led by Akhilesh K. Gaharwar and John Soukar at Texas A&M, are early-stage and confined to laboratory experiments, with safety and in vivo validation still required.