Unlike tissues in other parts of the body, such as skin, the nerve cells in the brain do not regenerate after being damaged.
However, one day, the nerve cells in the brain may be able to do so with a little help from a new type of hydrogel.
Scientists have soaked this gel in growth factor serum to promote the development of blood vessels.
A team of scientists at Hokkaido University in Japan has developed a biocompatible polymer gel. This gel is composed of equal parts of positively and negatively charged monomers. This combination has been found to provide the best adhesion for cells.
The lead author, Satoshi Tanikawa, shared: “When I saw the 3D structure of the porous hydrogel presented by my colleague at a meeting, I thought that it could be used in regenerative treatments for developing nerve cells.”
The research team adjusted the ratio of crosslinking molecules in the hydrogel to give it a stiffness similar to that of brain tissue. They also created small pores within it, providing a “nesting” place for the cells.
Next, this gel was soaked in growth factor serum to promote blood vessel development. It was then surgically implanted into damaged areas of mouse brains.
Three weeks later, the research team discovered that immune cells and neurons from the surrounding brain tissue had migrated into the implanted hydrogel, along with newly developed blood vessels inside it. Subsequently, the researchers injected neural stem cells into the gel.
After approximately 40 days, most of those cells survived. Some differentiated into neurons and astrocytes that support nerve cells. Additionally, some new neurons had migrated out of the hydrogel and into the surrounding brain tissue, demonstrating how well this material integrated into the brain.
The research team noted that the timing of the different steps was crucial. When scientists attempted to implant the gel and add stem cells simultaneously, the process was unsuccessful.
The research paper led by Professors Satoshi Tanikawa and Shinya Tanaka has been published in the journal Scientific Reports. Previously, scientists at the University of Georgia (USA) developed a type of hydrogel known as “brain glue.” This tool has been used to treat brain injuries in mice.
