Viral Scaffolding

One of the problems bioengineers have to overcome with regenerating tissue is creating a scaffolding on which cells can link.  Most researchers have turned to synthetic materials for this purpose, but professor Seung-Wuk Lee at UC-Berkeley has conducted research that shows bacteriophages are capable of playing that role.  Because they self replicate and self assemble, phage naturally form a structure, but when Lee uses rDNA to induce nerve promoting proteins on their surfaces, the scaffold helps neural-progentior cells to grow into lengthy neurons. Importantly, phage cannot enter animal cells; so, they work without degrading human tissue.  MORE  

Image Credit: Nano Letters and Technology Review