New study shows 'dancing molecules' can regenerate cartilage in 3 days

[Judi Lynn]

JULY 26, 2024

by Amanda Morris, Northwestern University

In November 2021, Northwestern University researchers introduced an injectable new therapy, which harnessed fast-moving "dancing molecules," to repair tissues and reverse paralysis after severe spinal cord injuries.


Now, the same research group has applied the therapeutic strategy to damaged human cartilage cells. In the new study, the treatment activated the gene expression necessary to regenerate cartilage within just four hours. And, after only three days, the human cells produced protein components needed for cartilage regeneration.

The researchers also found that, as the molecular motion increased, the treatment's effectiveness also increased. In other words, the molecules' "dancing" motions were crucial for triggering the cartilage growth process.

The study was published today in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

"When we first observed therapeutic effects of dancing molecules, we did not see any reason why it should only apply to the spinal cord," said Northwestern's Samuel I. Stupp, who led the study. "Now, we observe the effects in two cell types that are completely disconnected from one another—cartilage cells in our joints and neurons in our brain and spinal cord. This makes me more confident that we might have discovered a universal phenomenon. It could apply to many other tissues."

An expert in regenerative nanomedicine, Stupp is Board of Trustees Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemistry, Medicine and Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern, where he is founding director of the Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology and its affiliated center, the Center for Regenerative Nanomedicine. Stupp has appointments in the McCormick School of Engineering, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences and Feinberg School of Medicine. Shelby Yuan, a graduate student in the Stupp laboratory, was primary author of the study.

More:
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-07-molecules-regenerate-cartilage-days.html

[Permanut]

1. A hopeful breakthrough..

[Dave Bowman]

2. Truly amazing, wow.

[central scrutinizer]

3. We've got a dancing candidate

That can regenerate America

[True Dough]

4. In this day and age

It's just a matter of time until we have Molecular Dancing With the Stars.



Glad to hear of this breakthrough, however.

[jmbar2]

5. Maybe that explains TFG's miraculous ear cartilage healing?

[homegirl]

9. Music by

YMCA---hysterical!

[3Hotdogs]

10. --- like watching Boris Karloff as The Mummy.

Stiff as a board.

[yorkster]

6. A stretch perhaps,but possible applications for

dental implants. Recently heard about
the months it took for a friend's implant from extraction to bone graft, etc., etc., I suddenly thought of spray foam insulation and imagined a time when
there could be an injection of bone cells which could grow much more quickly than the present norm. That was months ago. Obviously no scientist, but what possibilities - "cartilage cells, neurons, spinal cord" - incredible.

Many thanks.

[ms liberty]

7. I have degenerative discs, C4-7. I'd love to have them regenerated

Marking for when I ever go see someone about it, lol!

[relayerbob]

8. Fascinating

[Ojerly]

11. Do the dancing molecules

make it look like you're wacking off 2 giants as you show off your moves at the cult meetings?

[Farmer-Rick]

12. This could help a lot of people with bad hips

Hip arthritis occurs when cartilage in the hip joint wears away, leaving less protection for the bones, which may become damaged.

It's what I got in both my hips. If these dancing molecules can grow cartilage, this would definitely help my hips.

[ShazzieB]

13. Same with knees!

Knee cartilage wears away, too, causing arthritis in those joints.

I am lucky not to have hip problems, but my knees are a mess. Being able to regenerate some of the cartilage I've lost would be a godsend.

[intrepidity]

14. Fascinating!

I didn't read the original paper, but it sounds like maybe the "dancing" has the effect of binding/releasing rapidly? Maybe this stimilates more response from the receptor(s)? Or prevents uptake/degradation? I can see application in psych meds, like antidepressants--maybe; although maybe it is only good for short-term benefits, like adding cartilage. Even so, very interesting.