Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University School of Medicine and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
Adv Healthc Mater. 2021 Aug;10(15):e2001600. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202001600. Epub 2020 Nov 16.
The human nervous system is a remarkably complex physiological network that is inherently challenging to study because of obstacles to acquiring primary samples. Animal models offer powerful alternatives to study nervous system development, diseases, and regenerative processes, however, they are unable to address some species-specific features of the human nervous system. In vitro models of the human nervous system have expanded in prevalence and sophistication, but still require further advances to better recapitulate microenvironmental and cellular features. The field of neural tissue engineering (TE) is rapidly adopting new technologies that enable scientists to precisely control in vitro culture conditions and to better model nervous system formation, function, and repair. 3D bioprinting is one of the major TE technologies that utilizes biocompatible hydrogels to create precisely patterned scaffolds, designed to enhance cellular responses. This review focuses on the applications of 3D bioprinting in the field of neural TE. Important design parameters are considered when bioprinting neural stem cells are discussed. The emergence of various bioprinted in vitro platforms are also reviewed for developmental and disease modeling and drug screening applications within the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as their use as implants for in vivo regenerative therapies.
人类神经系统是一个非常复杂的生理网络，由于获取原始样本的障碍，对其进行研究具有挑战性。动物模型为研究神经系统发育、疾病和再生过程提供了有力的替代方法，但它们无法解决人类神经系统的一些特定于物种的特征。体外人类神经系统模型的普及和复杂性不断提高，但仍需要进一步的发展，以更好地再现微环境和细胞特征。神经组织工程（TE）领域正在迅速采用新技术，使科学家能够精确控制体外培养条件，并更好地模拟神经系统的形成、功能和修复。3D 生物打印是 TE 领域的主要技术之一，它利用生物相容性水凝胶来创建精确图案化的支架，旨在增强细胞反应。本综述重点介绍了 3D 生物打印在神经 TE 领域的应用。讨论生物打印神经干细胞时，考虑了重要的设计参数。还回顾了各种生物打印的体外平台在中枢和周围神经系统中的发育和疾病建模以及药物筛选应用，以及它们作为体内再生治疗植入物的用途。
