British scientists are currently working on a ‘bionic nerve’, a nerve which may be able to bring damaged limbs and organs back to life. The research is hoped will aid accident victims, cancer patients and patients undergoing organ transplants.

The bionic nerve is slightly different to current techniques in that it repairs peripheral nerves that are found outside of the brain and spinal cord. The bionic nerve will be created from stem cells taken from the patient. The stem cells are placed into nerve cells in a piece of biodegradable plastic tubing. This tubing is then placed in the body and the two ends of the cut nerve are attached at either end. New nerve fibres will then grow within the tubing, reconnecting the two broken ends of nerve.

The researchers have already worked with animals and are now planning to extract some stem cells from fat in human volunteers.