3D Functional Neuronal Networks Bioprinted

Researchers at Monash University have successfully used bioinks containing living neurons to 3D print nerve networks that can grow and transmit nerve signals in the lab. Their research was published recently in Advanced Healthcare Materials.

This innovative approach mimics the brain's arrangement of grey matter and white matter. It creates 3D neuronal networks that closely replicate the brain's circuits, allowing neurons to form connections between different layers, similar to how it happens in a living brain. The neurons projected from the grey matter layer grew through the white matter layer, serving as a communication highway between different layers.

Electrophysiological measurements confirmed that these 3D neural networks exhibited spontaneous nerve-like activity and responded to electrical and drug stimulation. This development marks a significant advancement in neuroscience and bioprinting.

Bioprinted 3D neural networks hold immense promise for studying nerve and network formation, researching the effects of diseases on neurotransmission, and screening drug effects on the nervous system. This breakthrough could pave the way for a deeper understanding of neurobiology and more effective drug discovery for neurological disorders.