A Mexican researcher developed in Australia a ‘mini-brain’ consisting of a structure printed in 3D in which mouse neurons are placed on different layers. The aim is to have a research tool to study neuronal behavior during the advance of some cerebral diseases or drug consumption. The brain cells survived for ten days, performed their communication process, and were not harmed.
Rodrigo Lozano, who is completing a doctorate degree at Wollongong University, explained he used 3D printing to develop the structure of the ‘mini-brain’, a manufacturing process involving the creation of three-dimensional objects by placing successive layers of material, one above of the other.
As for the procedure for creating the prototype, Lozano, who holds a degree in electronic engineer from the National Polytechnic Institute, said: “Immature cortical neurons of embryonic mice are encapsulated in a polymer hydrogel called gellan gum, which is of natural origin and allows creating a suspension of cells Called bio-ink“.
This material, in addition to being inexpensive and biocompatible with the human body, is sufficiently porous to allow exchanging nutrients and cellular waste materials within. Also, gellan gum meets the characteristic of solidifying effectively at room temperature and can be chemically modified using with peptides such as RGD.
Through this modifications the hydrogel supported the survival and union of neurons by allowing them growing and spreading their fibers at distances of several hundred microns. So, ten days after the impression, neurons had the characteristic appearance of mature cortical cells. In addition, these brain cells had already formed layered structures similar to the cerebral cortex.
Additionally it was observed, through several studies that measure the cellular electrical activity, the neurons managed to communicate among them as they do in a common brain.
Finally, the Mexican said these types of models can be used to understand the effects of drugs on the brain by measuring activity in different layers. In addition they are also useful to study functioning of neurons during the development of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease.
Source: Agencia ID
