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A research team from the University of Minnesota’s Twin Cities has demonstrated a groundbreaking method for repairing spinal cord injuries that integrates 3D printing, stem cell biology, and lab-grown tissues. This research was recently published in the journal “Advanced Healthcare Materials”.
According to statistics, there are over 300,000 spinal cord injury patients in the United States, and currently, it is impossible to completely reverse the paralysis caused by such injuries. The main challenges lie in the death of nerve cells and the inability of nerve fibers to regenerate across the damaged area. This new study directly addresses this issue.
The method involves using 3D printing technology to create a special organ scaffold with microchannels, into which region-specific spinal cord neural progenitor cells (sNPCs) are implanted. These cells are derived from human adult stem cells and have the ability to divide and differentiate into specific types of mature cells.
A unique 3D printed framework created for lab-grown organs. Image source: University of Minnesota
The first author of the paper, Guebum Han, who previously did postdoctoral work at the University of Minnesota and is now employed at Intel, stated: “We use the channels of the 3D printed scaffold to guide the growth of stem cells, ensuring that new nerve fibers extend in the desired manner. The relay system constructed by this method can bypass the damaged area when implanted into the spinal cord.”
The research team transplanted these scaffolds into rats with completely severed spinal cords. The transplanted cells successfully differentiated into neurons and extended nerve fibers in both the rostral and caudal directions, establishing new connections with the host’s existing neural circuits. Over time, the new nerve cells seamlessly integrated with the host spinal cord tissue, resulting in significant functional recovery for the rats.
Ann Parr, a professor of neurosurgery at the University of Minnesota, stated: “Regenerative medicine has opened a new era for spinal cord injury research.” Although the research is still in its early stages, it brings new hope to patients with spinal cord injuries. The team hopes to scale up production and continue developing this technology combination for future clinical applications.
Source: China Science Daily
The Zhengzhou 3D Printing Innovation Center, with strong support from the Xinmi City Government and the Xinmi City Science and Technology Bureau, is led by Academician Lu Bingheng from Xi’an Jiaotong University and the National Engineering Research Center for Rapid Manufacturing. It has been established and is operational in the industrial cluster area of Xinmi City, currently receiving multiple honors such as “Zhengzhou City Science and Technology Public Service Platform” and “Zhengzhou City New R&D Institution”.
WeChat ID丨Zhengzhou 3D Printing Innovation Center
Address丨Xinmi QuLiang 3D Printing Industrial Park