Mission Myelin: Model, Damage, Repair
Students repair damaged myelin.Copyright Laura Martz, iPhone camera
Students explore myelination, demyelination, and remyelination through a hands-on simulation. They design a model of a myelinated nerve by lining a tube with a material that helps a marble travel through quickly and smoothly. After measuring the marble’s speed through this “healthy” tube, students then simulate demyelination by damaging or removing part of the lining and measuring the slower speed. Finally, they attempt to “repair” the tube, test the marble’s speed again, and compare results.
Biomedical engineers are studying myelin with a focus on repairing, regenerating, and preventing degradation of the myelin sheath, especially in neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Biomedical and bioengineers develop cell therapies and design experimental models to test how different treatments can promote remyelination. Their design solutions address both the mechanics of treatment and the biochemical delivery of cell-based therapies. Current research includes developing new cell therapies, exploring electrical stimulation techniques, creating computer models to simulate disease and treatment, designing new therapeutic approaches, and investigating the mechanical properties of myelin.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Describe the function of myelin and the effects of degraded myelin on nerve signals.
- Differentiate between myelin, demyelination, and remyelination.
- Apply engineering design practices on the creation and repair of myelin models.