3D bioprinting of human neural tissues with functional connectivity
2024
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, USA
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. Here, a 3D bioprinting platform was developed to assemble tissues with defined human neural cell types in a desired dimension using a commercial bioprinter.
The printed neuronal progenitors differentiated into neurons and formed 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 developed into mature astrocytes with elaborated processes and formed 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, modelling pathological processes, and serving as platforms for drug testing.
3D bioprinting of human neural tissues with functional connectivity
Su-Chun Zhang
Added on: 12-10-2024
[1] https://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/fulltext/S1934-5909(23)00439-3?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1934590923004393%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
