Published on: Dec 01, 2025
Biomedical researchers at Texas A&M University may have identified a way to halt — or even reverse — the decline in cellular energy production, a breakthrough with potentially transformative implications for medicine.
Dr. Akhilesh K. Gaharwar, Ph.D. student John Soukar, and their team in the Department of Biomedical Engineering have developed a technique that replenishes damaged cells with new mitochondria, restoring energy output and significantly improving cellular health.
Because mitochondrial decline is associated with aging, heart disease and neurodegenerative disorders, enhancing the body’s natural ability to replace deteriorating mitochondria could help combat all of these conditions.
A microscopic image shows how nanoflowers (white) enable healthy cells (yellow) to transfer energy-generating mitochondria (red) to nearby cells.
As human cells age or are harmed by degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, or by toxins such as chemotherapy drugs, their capacity to produce energy drops. This results from a decline in mitochondria — the tiny structures within cells responsible for generating most of their energy. From neurons to muscle cells, fewer mitochondria lead to weakened cells that eventually lose function.
In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers used microscopic flower-shaped particles known as nanoflowers together with stem cells. When exposed to these nanoflowers, stem cells generated twice the usual number of mitochondria. When placed near aging or damaged cells, these enhanced stem cells passed their surplus mitochondria to their weakened neighbors.
Once supplied with new mitochondria, the damaged cells revived their energy production and regained normal function. The rejuvenated cells also resisted cell death, even after exposure to harmful agents such as chemotherapy drugs.
We have trained healthy cells to share their spare batteries with weaker ones, Gaharwar explained. By increasing the number of mitochondria inside donor cells, we can help aging or damaged cells regain their vitality — without genetic modification or drugs.
While cells naturally exchange small amounts of mitochondria, these nanoflower-stimulated stem cells — termed “mitochondrial biofactories” — transferred two to four times more mitochondria than untreated cells.
The level of efficiency was beyond what we expected, said Soukar, lead author of the study. It’s like giving an old device a new battery pack. Instead of discarding damaged cells, we recharge them using mitochondria from healthy ones.
Existing methods to boost mitochondrial numbers have limitations, requiring frequent dosing since the molecules break down quickly. In contrast, the nanoflowers — roughly 100 nanometers in size — remain in the cells longer and sustain mitochondrial production, suggesting therapeutic approaches could require only monthly treatments.
This is a promising early step toward recharging aging tissues using their own biological systems, Gaharwar said. “If we can safely enhance this natural power-sharing process, it may ultimately slow or even reverse some aspects of cellular aging.
The nanoparticles are composed of molybdenum disulfide, an inorganic compound with many potential two-dimensional forms at the microscopic scale. The Gaharwar Lab is among the few groups exploring its biomedical uses.
Stem-cell-based therapies have long been a focus in regenerative medicine, and enhancing stem cells with nanoflowers could elevate their therapeutic potential even further.
One significant advantage is the approach’s versatility. While fully exploring its applications will take time, the strategy could theoretically restore function across many types of tissues.
You can deliver the cells virtually anywhere in the body, Soukar noted. For cardiomyopathy, you can target heart cells directly. For muscular dystrophy, you can inject them into muscle. The possibilities are broad, and we’re just at the beginning. There are countless directions for new treatments as we continue this work.
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