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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : April 22, 2014 6:38 PM IST
In a breakthrough, Cambridge scientists have discovered a bizarre new property in the nuclei of embryonic stem cells that could pave the way for gen-next bulletproof vests. Stem cells - the body's master cells - demonstrate the property never before seen at a cellular level, scientists said. The property - known as auxeticity - is one which may have application as wideranging as soundproofing, super-absorbent sponges and bulletproof vests, they said. Most materials when stretched will contract. The opposite is also true: squeeze a material and it will expand. (Read: How stem cell treatment can improve heart muscle function)
However, scientists have begun to explore auxeticity, an unusual property which has the opposite effect - squeeze it and it will contract, stretch it and it will expand. This means that auxetic materials act as excellent shock absorbers or sponges, a fact that is being explored for various uses. Until now, auxeticity has only been demonstrated in man-made materials and very rarely in nature, such as some species of sponge. Ateam of University of Cambridge researchers observed auxeticity in the nuclei of embryonic stem cells, master cells within the body which can turn into any other type of cell. (Read: First stem cell research paves way for new treatments for bipolar disorder)
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'This is a pretty bizarre finding and very unexpected. When the stem cell is in the process of transforming into a particular type of cell, its nucleus takes on an auxetic property, allowing it to 'sponge up' essential materials from its surrounding,' Kevin Chalut from the Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, who led the study, said. 'This property has not, to my knowledge, been seen before at a cellular level and is highly unusual in the natural world,' Chalut said. The auxetic properties only appear in the stem cell's nucleus when it is in the transition stage, changing from an embryonic, non-specific stem cell into a differentiated, tissue-specific cell, such as a heart tissue cell. The research was published in the journal Nature Materials. (Read: Researcher designs a 'mini heart' using stem cells!)
What is stem cell?
Stem cells are cells which are capable of giving rise to more cells of the same type. They are of particular interest because they are capable of replenishing dying cells and can regenerate damaged tissues. Experts believe that stem cell treatments will play an important role in alleviating human diseases. Right now the only cost beneficial stem cell therapy is bone marrow transplantation but experts believe that it can be soon used to treat cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's, cardiac failures and can facilitate organ transplantation with minimal risk of rejection and side-effects. (Read: Stem cell therapy what you ought to know)
With inputs from PTI
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