Researchers from Australian National University and University of Melbourne have developed a new "mixed" hydrogel, which enables clinicians to safely deliver stem cells to the brain injury site of mice. The research results were published in the latest issue of Nature · Communication, which will be beneficial to stem cell therapy of brain, central nervous system and multiple body parts. After stroke and other injuries, there will be a dead zone in the brain, which requires temporary blood supply to support cells until the blood system is repaired. The new hydrogel can deliver substances into the body and promote the effective growth of new cells. It can not only provide stem cells and oxygen, but also keep stem cells alive during injection. This breakthrough research has solved a major challenge faced by stem cell researchers since the 1980s, that is, to keep stem cells alive long enough so that they can create the cells needed for new tissues when they are inserted into the damaged parts of the body. In this five-year study, scientists found a synthetic protein based on myoglobin - a natural protein in high concentration in the heart muscle of sperm whales and horses. Its addition to hydrogels can provide continuous oxygen release, ensure the survival of stem cells in the delivery process, and further develop into cells needed for brain tissue repair. Whales and other deep diving animals are believed to have evolved high concentrations of myoglobin in muscle tissue, so they can slowly absorb as much oxygen as possible during diving; Similarly, horses are also considered to have the same evolution, so they can gallop over long distances. The latest research was carried out in the brain tissue of injured mice. The team confirmed that the hydrogel combined myoglobin and stem cells repaired the injured brain tissue. Compared with the hydrogel without myoglobin, the survival and growth of new stem cells required for healthy brain function are significantly enhanced. This research improves the possibility of growing new tissue in human treatment in the future, which is also the first evidence of achieving oxygen delivery and long-term survival of stem cell transplantation in hydrogels. (Xinhua News Agency)