World's First 3D-printed neural tissue that operates like the brain of a human being

Yuanwei Yan works at the Zhang lab at UW-Madison, where experts have found new printing methods for growing brain tissues for research into neurodevelopmental conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Photograph by Xueyan Li.

World’s first 3D-printed brain tissue

A collaborated group of Scientists have created the world’s first 3D brain tissue that operates like an actual human brain. Researchers created the world’s first 3D-printed brain tissue that develops and behaves like genuine brain tissue, representing a huge step forward in neurological and neurodevelopmental disease research.

The World’s first 3D-printed brain tissue revolutionary printing process employs horizontal stacking and a smoother bio-ink, enabling neurons to interact and build networks similar to human brain architecture.

The capacity to carefully manipulate cell kinds and configurations affords unprecedented chances to research neurological processes and illnesses in a controlled setting, opening up new pathways for testing with drugs and better knowledge of brain development and illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

What does the discovery say?

It can establish networks and communicate via neurotransmitters, much like real brain connections. This novel printing technology provides exact control over cell kinds and configurations, well beyond the capabilities of standard brain organoids.

The methodology of World’s first 3D-printed brain tissue is approachable to many labs, does not require any specific equipment or culture procedures, and has the potential to dramatically affect the research of numerous neurological disorders and therapies.

Source – UW Madison News

The unavailability of accurate human brain tissues in scientific research that allow for dynamic functional evaluation of neural circuits impedes dig deep into how normal neural networks work. Using a commercial bioprinter, a 3D bioprinting platform capable of assembling tissues with specific human brain cell types in any required dimension was created.

Within weeks, the printed neuronal progenitors develop into neurons and create distinct functional neural circuits within and across tissue layers, as indicated by cortical-to-striatal projection, spontaneous synaptic currents, and synaptic responsiveness to neuronal activation.

In terms of the Human Brain Anatomy, Printed astrocyte progenitors evolve into mature astrocytes with complex processes and create functioning neuron-astrocyte networks, as evidenced by calcium flow and glutamate absorption in response to neuronal stimulation in both healthy and pathological situations. These created human neural tissues will most likely be beneficial to achieve: the wiring of human neural networks, modeling pathological processes, and serving as platforms for drug testing.

(https://news.wisc.edu/uw-madison-researchers-first-to-3d-print-functional-human-brain-tissue/)

A collaborative effort of scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison generated the first 3D-printed brain tissue that is able to develop and operate properly.

World’s first 3D-printed brain tissue – *(“Our tissue remains rather thin, making it easier for neurons to obtain enough oxygen and nutrients from the development medium,” Yan explains.) – Source : Neurosciencenews*

What Scientists have to say about this tissue?

“The discovery might serve as a hugely effective model to help humanity comprehend how cells in the brain and parts of the brain engage in humans,” says Su-Chun Zhang, researcher of neuroscience and neurology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Centre.

Prior attempts in medical sciences to print brain tissue have had limited success, based on Zhang and Yuanwei Yan, a scientist on Zhang’s team. The team that pioneered the revolutionary 3D-printing process recently published their findings in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

The researchers used a novel way for 3D printing, building layers horizontally instead of vertically. They inserted brain cells, neurons derived from synthesized pluripotent embryonic stem cells, in a smoother “bio-ink” gel than prior attempts have.

The printing technology science gives precision — management of the types and configurations of cells — which brain organoids, smaller size organs developed to research the brain, lack. The organoids grow alongside little organization and guidance.

Man behind the 3D Brain tissue discovery – *(Su-Chun Zhang, Research scientist at Zhang lab at UW–Madison)*

Zhang says. “Because we can construct the tissue, we can create a defined system to study how the human brain’s network functions. We can print precisely what we want, allowing us to look at how nerve cells communicate with one another under certain conditions.“, This 3D Brain discovery gives pace to the technology further for future medical development and enhances specificity which allows flexibility.

“In the past, we generally focused at just one thing at a time, which caused us to overlook key components. Our brain works in networks. We want to print tissue from the brain this way as cells do not function independently. They converse to one another. This is how our brain works, and it must be researched as a whole to properly comprehend it,” Zhang explains.

“Our brain tissue might be utilised to investigate practically every significant component of what many researchers at the Waisman Centre are working on. It can investigate the molecular pathways that underpin brain development, human growth and development, developmental disorders, neurodegenerative illnesses, and other conditions.

The printed brain tissue might be used to investigate signalling involving cells in Down syndrome, relationships among healthy tissue and Alzheimer’s-affected tissue, evaluating novel treatment candidates, or even monitoring brain development.

What was the previous scientific discovery?

Researchers had employed human neural stem cells to 3D print functioning brain tissue that resembled the architecture of the cerebral cortex, the brain’s outermost layer. The groundbreaking approach had the potential to give personalised brain injury treatments.

https://newatlas.com/medical/3d-printed-tissues-using-stem-cells-to-repair-brain-injuries/

SCience Discovery – NeurologicalStem cell

3D Brain Tissue discovery : The future of science –

The new printing technology should also be available to a wide range of laboratories. It doesn’t need specific bio-printing equipment or culture procedures to maintain the tissue healthy, and it may be examined in depth using microscopes, basic imaging techniques, and electrodes that are already widely used in the field.

The scientists would like to investigate the possibilities of specialization, however, by enhancing their bio-ink and optimizing their instruments in order to allow for precise cell orientations inside the printed tissue.