In a major scientific breakthrough, researchers at Texas A&M University have developed an innovative technique that can rejuvenate ageing human cells by supercharging their energy-producing structures—mitochondria. The study focuses on how mitochondrial decline, a natural part of ageing, leads to reduced energy production and contributes to diseases affecting the heart, muscles, and brain.
To counter this deterioration, the scientists created microscopic, flower-shaped particles known as nanoflowers. These nanoflowers, made from molybdenum disulfide, are designed with millions of tiny pores that act like molecular sponges. Their role is to absorb harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS)—unstable oxygen molecules that damage cells—within targeted tissues. When absorbed, a chain reaction begins inside the cell, activating genes responsible for generating fresh, healthy mitochondria.
How Nanoflowers Restore Cellular Vitality
According to the research team, these energized stem cells don’t just heal themselves—they can also transfer their healthy, newly multiplied mitochondria to nearby weak or damaged cells. This transfer works almost like giving ageing cells a “battery replacement,” enabling them to regain function without any genetic modification or drug-based treatment.
“We have trained healthy cells to share their spare batteries with weaker ones,” explained biomedical engineer Akhilesh Gaharwar, who led the study. “By increasing the number of mitochondria inside donor cells, we can help ageing or damaged cells regain their vitality—without any genetic modification or drugs.”
Lab Tests Show Dramatic Improvements
During lab experiments, stem cells treated with the nanoflowers produced significantly more mitochondria. As a result, the transfer of healthy mitochondria to nearby cells nearly doubled. The impact was particularly striking in smooth muscle cells, which grew three to four times more after receiving the mitochondrial boost.
The treatment also demonstrated promise in repairing heart cells damaged by chemotherapy, where the survival rate was significantly higher compared to untreated cells.
Potential to Transform Treatment for Age-Related Diseases
Researchers believe the technique could eventually be used to rejuvenate cells in various parts of the body—near the heart for cardiovascular disease, inside muscles for dystrophy patients, or even around the brain for neurological disorders.
“It’s pretty promising in terms of being able to be used for a whole wide variety of cases, and this is just kind of the start,” said geneticist John Soukar. “We could work on this forever and find new things and new disease treatments every day.”
While the technology is still in early stages, scientists are optimistic that this mitochondria-boosting approach may someday lead to regenerative therapies that improve cell health, slow ageing, and treat degenerative conditions without invasive procedures or drugs.