The Core

Mice with hind legs paralysed learned to walk again after a single injection of synthetic nanofibres
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/nov/11/therapy-used-in-mice-may-revolutionise-treatment-of-spinal-cord-injuries-say-scientists

“We are going straight to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to start the process of getting this new therapy approved for use in human patients, who currently have very few treatment options.”

Also https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2021/11/dancing-molecules-successfully-repair-severe-spinal-cord-injuries/

I have a couple of paralyzed friends and came as close as close can get in 2006 to having a paralyzed wife. I would love to see this make into human applications.

Other news from the Strupp lab...
http://stupp.northwestern.edu/news/index.html

Research in the Stupp group integrates chemistry with materials science, biology, and medicine. The overarching interest of the group is the development of self-assembling organic materials, focusing on functions relevant to energy and medicine.  In the area of energy science, the laboratory’s interests include, materials for solar photovoltaics, catalytic materials that can synthesize solar fuels, supramolecular ferroelectrics for non-volatile memories, and artificial muscle materials for inter-conversion of chemical and mechanical energy.  In the area of medicine, the Stupp laboratory is interested in biomaterials for regenerative medicine of the brain, spinal cord, bone, cartilage and muscle, and also on targeted systemic drug delivery using nanostructures for cancer and cardiovascular applications.

http://stupp.northwestern.edu/research/index.html


A lot of real sci-fi type of research and, probably, hype. But even if 99% of it fails in the real world, if 1% of it makes it into real-world applications, it would be significant. If 10% made it into real-world applications, it would be huge.

Just the other day, Theresa, thinking of lingering injuries. was asking when we're going to get regenerative nanobots like on the TV show Dark Matter... it seems like the Strupp group is working on it already and even making some progress.

Now... once you combine this with self-replicating xenobots, you've got some science-fiction possibilities
https://scitechdaily.com/xenobots-scientists-build-the-first-ever-living-robots-that-can-reproduce/

Because of the stem cell lines?

There will be all manner of ethical and religious issues as machines become more and more like life forms.

This is so impressive. I hope solutions come online soon. I have had a couple of paralyzed friends and I taught skiing for paraplegics. Most of them would have a huge bump in quality if, for example, they could get in and out of a non-ADA bathroom. Just that would open many options for a richer life.