Scientists at UC Riverside have grown functional, brain-like tissue without animal-derived coatings, addressing a major challenge in neural tissue engineering. The study, led by associate professor Iman Noshadi with lead author Prince David Okoro, is described in Advanced Functional Materials.
The scaffold is made mainly from polyethylene glycol (PEG), a polymer that normally does not let cells attach. The team reshaped PEG into a textured matrix with interconnected pores so donor cells can recognize the surface, colonize it and form functional neural networks. To form the porous structure, researchers flowed water, ethanol and PEG through nested glass capillaries; when the mix met an outer water stream a flash of light stabilized the separation and locked the pores in place.
The pores allow oxygen and nutrients to circulate and feed donated stem cells. Because the scaffold is stable, it permits longer-term studies and may let mature brain cells show donor-specific neural activity. The model could help study traumatic brain injury, stroke and Alzheimer’s and may reduce the need for animal brains in research. Research began in 2020; the scaffold is about two millimeters wide, and the team is working to scale the model.
Difficult words
- scaffold — a structure that supports cells in growth
- polyethylene glycol — a synthetic chemical used to make polymerspolyethylene glycol (PEG)
- polymer — a large molecule made of many small units
- porous — having many small holes that allow flow
- interconnected — connected with many parts linked to each other
- colonize — to move into an area and live there
- stem cell — a cell that can develop into other cellsdonated stem cells
- stabilize — to make something firm or steady over timestabilized
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could brain-like models without animal-derived coatings change medical research?
- What advantages do longer-term studies with a stable scaffold give researchers?
- What challenges might scientists face when they try to scale this model to larger sizes?
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