Researchers inserted bone marrow-derived cells (BMCs) into 15mm silicon tubes and subsequently implanted into animal models at sites intended for nerve regeneration. When the BMCs were nourished with bioengineered additives — such as growth factors and cell adhesion molecules — the BMCs differentiated into cells with characteristics of Schwann cells — a variety of neural cell providing insulating myelin around the axons of peripheral nerve cells. The work represents a further step in developing artificial nerves.