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Bioengineers are growing lots of things in the lab. For instance, tracheas and kidneys using stem cells are now possible. The next frontier? To grow functional brain cells.
Admittedly, growing brain cells is far more difficult than other types of biological cells. The brain is so complex that cells require complicated protein patterns. If the pattern isn't correct, nerve cells won't work the way they're supposed to.
The scientists at the Karolinska institute in Sweden had a breakthrough in doing just that. They were able to grow brain cells after removing the neural cells from a rat's brain tissue. They then combined it with a gelatin scaffold and later added stem cells from another rat to the scaffold. The stem cells grew and became neural cells.
The results could be useful for helping those affected by brain diseases like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's. The technique could also help those who suffer from brain injuries. The researchers envision being able to use the scaffold to replace the damaged parts of the brain too in the future.
For now, the technique requires more research before putting it to human trials. Since, we're really still not a hundred percent sure how the brain works.
[
New Scientist]