Your body is one of the most complex natural structures ever. Billions of cells are put together in a specific way with the result being you. If you look closely between the cells you’ll find the extracellular matrix, a gel-like environment where cells reside and which helps them to talk to each other. However, when disease strikes, cells and the matrix alike can be irreparably damaged, which could lead to the loss of cell function.

In her Ph. D. research, Maritza Rovers looked at ways to make microgel-based scaffolds for cells, which could be used to support eye cells or even promote nerve growth in spinal cord injuries.

Every person on the planet is made up of billions of cells, which are the building blocks of our bodies. Between these cells lies the so-called extracellular matrix (ECM), a gel-like environment in which cells live out their lives.

We’re way behind several species when it comes to regeneration, and scientists are keen to discover the secrets of these other animals so we can learn from them – including, in a new study, the marine worm Platynereis dumerilii.

These worms are experts in regeneration – they can survive losing a large chunk of their bodies – and now we have a better idea of how they’re doing it: specialized cells near a wound are reverting to their original stem cell-like form, before adapting again to replace lost tissue.

Regeneration in most species is handled by stem cells, which develop into whatever type of cells are needed. However, when the end segment of Platynereis is removed, multiple populations of other cells are recruited to swiftly restore the missing body section.