Bioengineers build 3D tissue mimicking brain structure

Published time: August 13, 2014 03:33
A new three-dimensional model which mimics basic neural functions, courtesy of Tufts University.

A new three-dimensional model which mimics basic neural functions, courtesy of Tufts University.

A group of US scientists have managed to create a three-dimensional brain-like tissue featuring structural similarities to rat brain. Researchers hope that the new tissue could be used in the development of new treatments for brain dysfunctions.

The brain-like tissue was bioengineered at the Tissue Engineering Resource Center at Tufts Universityin Boston. Professor David Kaplan led the research efforts to develop the tissue which can be kept alive in the laboratory for more than two months.

“This work is an exceptional feat,” said Rosemarie Hunziker, program director of Tissue Engineering at the US National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) which funded the project.“It combines a deep understand of brain physiology with a large and growing suite of bioengineering tools to create an environment that is both necessary and sufficient to mimic brain function.”

Earlier methods of recreating brain tissues in petri dishes or 3D gel environments failed to replicate the segregated structure of a real brain, where grey and white matter form separate regions.

As simply allowing neurons to randomly grow in three dimensions was not good enough, researches created a novel composite structure which consisted of two biomaterials with different physical properties.

A spongy scaffold made out of silk protein was cut into a donut shape and served as the form in which rat brain neurons built functional networks of the grey matter. The middle of the donut was filled with collagen-based gel which encouraged axons grow through it forming a white matter region.

Confocal microscope image of neurons, courtesy of Tufts University.

Confocal microscope image of neurons, courtesy of Tufts University.

“The tissue maintained viability for at least nine weeks — significantly longer than cultures made of collagen or hydrogel alone — and also offered structural support for network connectivity that is crucial for brain activity,” said the paper's first author, Min D. Tang-Schomer, at Tufts.

The researchers then studied the health and function of the neurons growing in their new 3D brain-like tissue over a period of several weeks and conducted several tests to demonstrate its potential.

In one test, researchers simulated a traumatic brain injury by dropping a weight on the tissue and recording changes in neurons’ activity almost in real time, as compared to having to dissect and prepare real rodent brain for an experiment. During another test researchers tracked tissue response to a drug, according to the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The team did not reconstruct a whole-brain network, but rather used a modular design to replicate fundamental features of the brain's tissue-level physiological functions. However, they demonstrated the possibility of creating more complex structures, such as a set of concentric rings simulating the layered structure of the neocortex.

“The stiffness of the silk biomaterial could be tuned to accommodate the cortical neurons and the different types of gels, maintaining both stability in culture and brain-like tissue elasticity,” Min D. Tang-Schomer said.

“This model provides a unique opportunity for mapping out real-time neurophysiological events and function studies in the laboratory, monitoring that is prohibitive with humans or animals,” said study co-author Philip Haydon, professor of neuroscience at Tufts University School of Medicine.

Kaplan says that the new model can be used to study brain structure-function, drug screening, disease formation and treatments, and the effects of nutrition and toxicants. “This is the first step,” he said.

Views: 76

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted a blog post

Ashrams and Moonies Perfect Case for Mind Control

 In the late 60’s and into the 70’s we saw a strange phenomenon emerge! That was the rise of cults…See More
19 minutes ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Modern Progress

 From some things you just can’t come backNot everyone has your backIt might just be a nuclear…See More
yesterday
Bob of the Family Renner favorited tjdavis's photo
yesterday
Less Prone favorited Sandy's discussion Sick sci-fi sex fantasy written by Epstein's first benefactor people say inspired his twisted island... before author's SON ended up arresting him
yesterday
Doc Vega commented on tjdavis's photo
Thumbnail

Now Playing

"They sure as hell are! "
Wednesday
Doc Vega commented on Doc Vega's blog post Plausible Explanation Behind Recent Cryptid Sightings in the Wild!
"cheeki kea, yes they have already produced a Wooly Mammoth by crossing DNA from frozen remains in…"
Wednesday
Less Prone favorited tjdavis's photo
Wednesday
Less Prone favorited Bob of the Family Renner's photo
Wednesday
Less Prone favorited tjdavis's photo
Wednesday
Less Prone left a comment for Misteri
"Welcome back!"
Wednesday
tjdavis posted blog posts
Wednesday
tjdavis posted photos
Wednesday
tjdavis posted a video

The Inversion: The 'Sentient World Simulation' (SWS)

Kingsley L. Dennis discussing subjects from his new book - 'The Inversion: How We Have Been Tricked into Perceiving a False Reality' (published September 26,...
Wednesday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Major Technical Developments in 1960 and a Major CIA Disclosure

 In 1960, there were some very significant changes in science, flight research, and oceanography…See More
Monday
Doc Vega's 5 blog posts were featured
Monday
Less Prone favorited Doc Vega's blog post The Saga of Joe Adams May Have Solved What's Behind the Numerous Disappearances Going on in our National Forests
Monday
Zfort Group posted a blog post
Monday
Misteri joined Central Scrutinizer's group
Monday
Misteri joined Machinegunmomma's group
Thumbnail

The Gathering

A place to meet and share contact information with people in your area as an emergency back up…See More
Monday
Misteri is now friends with bob hob and Vladimir Putin
Monday

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted