Novel nanoflower technology could shield brain from oxidative damage

At Texas A&M AgriLife Research, a new branch of brain science is blooming at the molecular scale – with nanoflowers.

A study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry demonstrated that nanoflowers – a type of metallic flower-shaped nanoparticle – can protect and heal brain cells by promoting the health and turnover of mitochondria, the molecular machines responsible for producing most of our cells' energy.

These findings suggest a promising new approach to neurotherapeutics that targets the underlying mechanisms of diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, rather than just managing symptoms.

"These nanoflowers look beautiful under a microscope, but what they do inside the cell is even more impressive," Kurouski said. "By improving the health of brain cells, they help address one of the key drivers of neurodegenerative diseases that have long resisted therapeutic breakthroughs."

Image source: Mitchell et al. (2025), Journal of Biological Chemistry.