Micelles, which are basically small nano-particles which help repaid broken nerves by acting as "sticking plaster", could offer a new and improved treatment option for spinal cord injuries.

In test carried out to study micelles, it was discovered that these revered up repair of damaged tissue of nerve fibers by as much as 60%. Also, paralyzed laboratory rats whose tails were injected with the substance were able to walk.

A microscopic chemical, micelles are some 100 times smaller than red blood cells and sport an outer shell which is made from polyethylene glycol (PEG). It is this PEG which acts as a sealing source and is being looked at as a potential treatment agent for spinal injuries.

Dr Ji-Xin Cheng, from Purdue University, West Lafayette, shared, "That was a very surprising discovery. Micelles have been used for 30 years as drug-delivery vehicles in research, but no-one has ever used them directly as a medicine".

Findings of the study have been detailed in the November 8 issue of the journal Nature Nanotechnology.