Recharging Mitochondria: Nanoflowers Offer New Way to Boost Energy Production to Improve Age-Related Diseases

When we need to recharge, we might take a vacation or relax at a spa. But what if we could recharge at the cellular level, fighting aging and disease with the microscopic elements that make up the human body?

The ability to recharge cells declines with age or disease. Mitochondria play a critical role in energy production. When mitochondrial function declines, it leads to fatigue, tissue degeneration, and accelerated aging. Activities that once required minimal recovery now take much longer, highlighting the role these organelles play in maintaining vitality and overall health.

While current treatments for diseases of aging and conditions like type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s focus on managing symptoms, Texas A&M researchers have taken a new approach to fighting the battle at the source: recharging mitochondrial energy using nanotechnology.

Led by Dr. Abhay Singh, a postdoctoral researcher in biomedical engineering in the Gaharwar lab at Texas A&M University, the team developed molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanoflowers. Named for their flower-like structure, these nanoparticles contain atomic vacancies that can stimulate mitochondrial regeneration, helping cells generate more energy.

The team published its findings in Nature Communications.

“These findings point the way to a future where recharging our cells becomes possible, extending healthy lifespans and improving outcomes for patients with age-related diseases,” said Dr. Akhilesh Gaharwar, the Tim and Amy Leach Professor and Presidential Impact Fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M.

According to Gaharwar, nanoflowers could offer new treatments for diseases such as muscular dystrophy, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders by increasing ATP production, mitochondrial DNA and cellular respiration. They found that the atomic gaps in the nanoflowers stimulate molecular pathways involved in mitochondrial cell replication.

Research collaborators include Texas A&M faculty and students. From the Department of Biophysics and Biochemistry, Dr. Vishal Gohil provided insights into mechanisms that might promote improved mitochondrial function.

“This discovery is unique,” ​​Dr. Gohil said. “We’re not just improving mitochondrial function, we’re completely rethinking cellular energy. The potential for regenerative medicine is incredibly exciting.”

Other contributors from the Department of Biomedical Engineering include Dr. Hatice Ceylan Koydemir, assistant professor, and Dr. Irtisha Singh, affiliate assistant professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine. Singh contributed to the computational analysis that revealed the key pathways and molecular interactions responsible for the energy increase.

“By leveraging cutting-edge computational tools, we can decode the hidden patterns of cellular responses to these nanomaterials, opening up new possibilities for precision medicine,” Singh said. “It’s like giving cells the right instructions at the molecular level to help them restore their own powerhouses: the mitochondria.”

Next steps for the research team include identifying a method to deliver the nanoflowers to human tissues, with the goal of eventual clinical application.

“In science, it’s often the smallest details that lead to the most profound discoveries,” Gaharwar said. “By focusing on the invisible – like atomic gaps in nanomaterials – we discover new ways to solve big problems. Sometimes the real breakthroughs come from digging deeper and looking beyond the obvious.”