Tuesday, February 20, 2024

World's First 3D-Printed Neural Tissue Grows And Functions Like a Human Brain

Good news! Amazing stuff! 3D printing of a human brain! Can I get a better brain please! 😊

"Researchers have created the first functional 3D-printed brain tissue that can develop and form connections in the same way as real human brain tissue. ..."

From the highlights and abstract
"Highlights
Functional human neural tissues assembled by 3D bioprinting
Neural circuits formed between defined neural subtypes
Functional connections established between cortical-striatal tissues
• Printed tissues for modeling neural network impairment
Summary
Probing how human neural networks operate is hindered by the lack of reliable human neural tissues amenable to the dynamic functional assessment of neural circuits. We developed a 3D bioprinting platform to assemble tissues with defined human neural cell types in a desired dimension using a commercial bioprinter. The printed neuronal progenitors differentiate into neurons and form functional neural circuits within and between tissue layers with specificity within weeks, evidenced by the cortical-to-striatal projection, spontaneous synaptic currents, and synaptic response to neuronal excitation. Printed astrocyte progenitors develop into mature astrocytes with elaborated processes and form functional neuron-astrocyte networks, indicated by calcium flux and glutamate uptake in response to neuronal excitation under physiological and pathological conditions. These designed human neural tissues will likely be useful for understanding the wiring of human neural networks, modeling pathological processes, and serving as platforms for drug testing."

World's First 3D-Printed Neural Tissue Grows And Functions Like a Human Brain : ScienceAlert


Graphical abstract:


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