This technology while still in its early stages could have ground breaking potential. On average there are 200,000 people annually that suffer from nerve injuries or disease. This technology could be a life changing treatment available to these patients one day.
The researchers used a combination of 3D imaging and 3D printing techniques to build a custom silicone guide with biochemical cues to help nerve regeneration. They tested that effectiveness of this guide in rats by reverse engineering the sciatic nerve and creating a guide that would be implanted on sensory and motor nerves that were severed. After implantation their was a visual improvement of the rats ability to walk after 10 to 12 weeks.
While these are still preliminary tests the next step is increase the library of guides for nerves so that one day they could be applied in hospitals using 3D printers to help nerve regeneration for multiple neural diseases and injuries in humans.
If your interested in learning more here is the link to the abstract and informational video that describes the technology:
http://nextbigfuture.com/2015/09/3d-printed-guide-helps-regrow-complex.html
I think this idea is really interesting. 3D printers are being used more and more often from printing things as big as houses and now they are applying the technology to print things as small as nerves for regeneration. The link you provided had a pretty sweet video that actually showed the process of the printer creating the silicone guide which was actually pretty incredible to see. I think the impact that this technology could have would be large in that it could potentially help a variety of neurological diseases. Also 3D printing could eventually be used to build other parts throughout the body. Although they are far from showing this would work in human subjects, it's exciting to see that it has worked in rats and they plan to expand upon this knowledge. Here is another link of some people thinking along the same lines:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mtu.edu/news/stories/2015/may/bioprinting-3d-looks-like-candy-could-regenerate-nerve-cells.html
They too want to synthesize nerve tissues to help those suffering from spinal cord injuries. They use cellulose nanocrystal because they feel it is the ideal substance to "scaffold" with live tissues.
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ReplyDeleteI find it fascinating that the 3D-printed scaffold and the "path-specific biochemical cues" within it promoted the regeneration of both the motor and sensory axons of the sciatic nerve appropriately! In the video that you linked, one can clearly see the sensory-nerve promotion chemicals diverge from the motor-nerve promotion chemicals at the scaffold bifurcation, and it is amazing that the neuroblasts were able to discriminate between the two stimuli. This study is very compelling and the technology is promising for this application.
ReplyDeleteI was reminded of an article while reading our physiology material for our first TBL and it is also on the topic of nerve regeneration. Olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG) promote the regeneration of olfactory receptors and is the reason why someone, such as a burn victim, can spontaneously recover their sense of smell. Doctors transplanted OEG into the injured spinal cord of man rendered paralyzed from the chest down after being stabbed; after 6 months of treatment and physical therapy, the man is now able to walk with the support of leg braces and crutches.
Here is one article covering the story:
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/nasal-leads-paralyzed-man-walk