The brain on cotton wool
Nanocellulose allows neurons to be grown in a three-dimensional matrix
LifeSciencesToday based on Chalmers University of Technology: Nerve cells grow on nanocelluloseScientists from Chalmers Technical University (Chalmers tekniska hogskola) and the University of Gothenburg (Goteborgs universitet), Sweden, have proved that nanocellulose stimulates the formation of neural networks.
This is the first step to creating a three-dimensional model of the brain. From the point of view of studying Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease, such a model could take brain research to a whole new level.
Experiments on the cultivation of human neurons on nanocellulose (a material consisting of nanoscale cellulose fibers with a thickness of 5 to 20 nanometers and a length of up to 2000 nanometers) were carried out for two years.
"It was a very difficult task," Paul Gatenholm, professor of biopolymer technologies at Chalmers Technical University, comments on his work. "Until recently, the cells were dying pretty quickly because we couldn't get them to attach to the substrate. But after numerous experiments, we found a way to get them to fix on the substrate by increasing its positive charge. Now we have a reliable method of growing nerve cells on nanocellulose."
Neurons growing on a three-dimensional nanocellulose substrate. One of the areas for the study of which Swedish scientists plan to use nerve cells grown on nanocellulose is the destruction of synapses, which is one of the early signs of Alzheimer's disease. In the image, functioning synapses are shown in yellow, destroyed ones in red. (Photo: Philip Krantz, Chalmers)
Anchored on the substrate, the neurons finally began to develop and form contacts, the so-called synapses. As a result, a network of hundreds of nerve cells interacting with each other was formed. Now, using electrical impulses and signaling chemicals, scientists can receive nerve impulses that propagate through such a network in much the same way as in a real brain. In addition, they can study how nerve cells interact with other molecules, for example, drug molecules.
Professor Gatenholm and his colleagues are trying to create an "artificial brain" that can open up completely new possibilities in the study of higher nervous activity and in medicine in general and eventually lead to the emergence of biocomputers. In the near future, scientists plan to investigate the destruction of synapses – contacts between nerve cells – one of the early signs of Alzheimer's disease. So, they plan to study the reaction of neurons to the cerebrospinal fluid of patients.
This method may be useful in testing various chemicals – possibly future pharmaceuticals – that can slow down the destruction of synapses. In addition, studying the behavior of nanocellulose-grown neurons can be a good alternative to animal experiments in the field of brain research in general.
The ability to grow nerve cells on nanocellulose is an important step forward, because this material has many advantages.
"It is possible to create pores in nanocellulose, which will allow neurons to grow in a three-dimensional matrix. This is extremely comfortable for cells and, in comparison with three–dimensional wells, creates a culture environment closer to the real one, similar to the conditions in a living brain," explains Professor Gatenholm.
In his opinion, nanocellulose has a number of new biomedical applications. At the same time, Gatenholm is also conducting other projects using this material, for example, the development of cartilage to create an artificial auricle. And the nanocellulose blood vessels developed by his group are already undergoing preclinical tests.
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27.03.2012