“Rasing Axon” at Neuron Class
Advanced Science Cover Art
In Parkinson’s disease, a key brain pathway that carries dopamine signals breaks down, and rebuilding it with cell therapy has been difficult because new nerve cells don’t grow in the right direction. Dr.Raudzus and his team at Kyoto University have been studying a method called “nano-pulling”, which can gently guide transplanted nerve cells to extend toward their proper target, offering a new way to help repair these damaged brain circuits. They also show that iPSC-derived dopamine progenitors respond similarly, with improved growth and maturation. Overall, nano-pulling shows promise for steering neural connections in the brain.
The paper was published at AdvancedScience(2025);12(31)2500400.
Metaphor for Axon Extension
At the first meeting for the cover art, Dr.Raudzus presented a rough AI-generated concept of neurons extending axons under the pull of a magnetic field. The image, however, felt too literal and lacked nuance. I suggested that it might be better to explore a slightly more creative approach.
A first rough AI-generated concept (provided by a Dr. Raudzus)
After a few weeks, I came up with two concepts.
The first idea was to anthropomorphize neurons in a classroom scene. One of the students raises their hand (as a metaphor for the axon) toward a light shaped like a magnet hanging from the ceiling, with the hand being pulled upward by its force. On the blackboard, there is an illustration of the brain’s anatomy.
The second idea was a claw machine scene. Plush toys of various cells, including neurons, serve ad the prizes inside. The claw, shaped like a magnet, pulls a neuron toward it, while researchers operate the machine and observe the process.
The authors preferred the first concept and suggested that the classroom should resemble the brain, since neurons must navigate pathways to reconstruct it. To incorporate this feedback, I placed a brain-shaped carpet or rug on the classroom floor
Two rough images of the cover art. The authors preferred the classroom scene on the right.
For the actual production, I used colored pencils to give it the warm feeling like a picture book. The brain-anatomy drawing on the blackboard and the brain-shaped carpet or rug were added digitally.
It is always fun to draw using colored pencils..
A finished Cover Art (with official Advanced Science journal logo.)
The official cover legend says: “Vittoria Raffa, Fabian Raudzus, and co-workers present a novel approach to reconstruct neural networks in an organotypic Parkinson's model. Using a technique called nano-pulling, magnetic forces are applied to guide axonal growth of nanoparticle-loaded human cortical neural and iPSC-derived dopaminergic progenitors.”