Recharging mitochondria – nanoflowers offer a new way to simulate energy production to improve aging ailments

The ability to recharge cells diminishes as humans age or face diseases. Mitochondria are central to energy production. When mitochondrial function declines, it leads to fatigue, tissue degeneration, and accelerated aging.

Activities that once required minimal recovery now take far longer, highlighting the role that these organelles play in maintaining vitality and overall health.

While current treatments for ailments related to aging and diseases like type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's focus on managing symptoms, Texas A&M researchers have taken a new approach to fight the battle at the source: recharging mitochondrial power through nanotechnology.

Led by Dr. Abhay Singh, a biomedical engineering postdoctoral associate in the Gaharwar Laboratory at Texas A&M, the team has developed molybdenum disulfide (MoS?) nanoflowers. Named because of their flower-like structure, these nanoparticles contain atomic vacancies that can stimulate mitochondrial regeneration, helping cells generate more energy.

"These findings offer a future where recharging our cells becomes possible, extending healthy lifespans, and improving outcomes for patients with age-related diseases," said Dr. Akhilesh Gaharwar, Tim and Amy Leach Professor and Presidential Impact Fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M.

Image source: Akhilesh Gaharwar.