Scientists in Australia have used a 3D printer to create nerve cells found in the brain using a special bio-ink made from stem cells.
The research takes us a step closer to making replacement brain tissue derived from a patient's own skin or blood cells to help treat conditions such as brain injury, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and schizophrenia.
The bio-ink is made of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), which have the same power as embryonic stem cells to turn into any cell in the body, and possibly form replacement body tissues and even whole organs.
Jeremy Crook, who led the research, said the ability to customise brain tissue from a person's own body tissue was better for transplantation.
"That circumvents issues of immune rejection, which is common in organ transplantation," said Dr Crook, from the University of Wollongong and ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science.
