‘ 3D- printed device may help treat spinal injuries’

Washington, Aug. 10: Scientists have developed a 3D- printed device that could potentially help patients with longterm spinal cord injuries regain some function.

A three- dimensional ( 3D) printed guide, made of silicone, serves as a platform for specialised cells that are then printed on top of it, said researchers at the University of Minnesota in the US.

The guide would be surgically implanted into the injured area of the spinal cord where it would serve ass a type of “bridge” between living nerve cells above and below the area of injury, according to the research published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

The hope is that this would help patients alleviate pain as well as regain some functions like control of muscles, bowel and bladder, researchers said.

“This is the first time anyone has been able to directly 3D print neuronal stem cells derived from adult human cells on a 3D- printed guide and have the cells differentiate into active nerve cells in the lab,” said Michael McAlpine, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota.

“This is a very exciting first step in developing a treatment to help people with spinal cord injuries,” said Ann Parr, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

“Currently, there are not any good, precise treatments for those with long- term spinal cord injuries,” Parr said.

In this new process, researchers start with any kind of cell from an adult, such as a skin cell or blood cell.

Using new bioengineering techniques, the researchers are able to reprogramme the cells into neuronal stem cells.