With the advancement of stem cell technology and 3D printing, researchers at the University of Oxford developed a 3D printing method for the purpose of repairing brain injuries. It was initially tested in mouse brain fragments, to this the implant was attached. These implants then got integrated with the mouse brain fragments. This newly developed technology can be used for curing lethal brain injuries.
Tissue regenerative therapy is the method adapted for this technique in which the stem cells obtained from the patient can be used to create implants which can be an efficient method for treating brain injuries.
“This advance marks a significant step towards the fabrication of materials with the full structure and function of natural brain tissues. The work will provide a unique opportunity to explore the workings of the human cortex and, in the long term, it will offer hope to individuals who sustain brain injuries.”
Lead author Dr Yongcheng Jin (Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford)
The researchers at the University of Oxford used human neural stem cells for the 3D printing of the bi-layered brain tissue by 3D printing. This brain layer showed structural integrity with the host tissue.
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Human induced pluripotent stem cells are used to develop the cortical structure which can give rise to the cell types found in human tissues. The main advantage of using human induced pluripotent stem cells is that they can be obtained directly from the patients. So immune rejection is not an issue regarding this method.
The researchers demonstrated these 3D prints of brain layers using mouse brain fragments. This brain layer implant was firmly integrated with the mouse brain fragments. These implants also exhibited strong communication through signalling activity.
The objective of the current research is to improve the droplet printing method in order to produce intricate, multi-layered cerebral cortex tissues that more closely resemble the structure of the human brain. These developed tissues may be employed in drug testing, and research on brain development.
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Future treatments for brain injuries may involve tissue regeneration therapies, particularly those in which patients get implants made from their own stem cells. However, there is currently no way to guarantee that implanted stem cells replicate the brain’s structure.
The study ‘Integration of 3D-Printed Cerebral Cortical Tissue into an ex vivo Lesioned Brain Slice’ has been published in Nature Communications.
Journal Citation: Jin, Yongcheng, et al. “Integration of 3D-printed Cerebral Cortical Tissue into an Ex Vivo Lesioned Brain Slice.” Nature Communications, vol. 14, no. 1, 2023, pp. 1-15, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41356-w. Accessed 5 Oct. 2023.
Author: Achuth B S
Source: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news-and-events
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Graduated from the University of Kerala with B.Sc. Botany and Biotechnology. M.Sc. Biotechnology from the University of Kerala. Attended certificate course in Artificial Intelligence for Everyone from Deeplearning.AI, Influenza Prevention and Control from World Health Organization. Attended workshops related to Bioinformatics at the University of Kerala. 3 years of experience in website management. Experience in WordPress, Blogger, Google Analytics, and Google Search Console.
