3D printed scaffold promotes nerve cell growth for spinal cord injury

For the first time, researchers have utilized 3D printing technologies to create a spinal cord, which has been successfully implanted and loaded with neural stem cells to promote nerve cell growth for spinal cord injuries. The implants are intended to promote nerve growth across spinal cord injuries, restoring connections and lost function. In rat models, the researchers revealed that the scaffolds supported tissue regrowth, stem cell survival and expansion of neural stem cell axons out of the scaffolding and into the host spinal cord. The results of the study have been published in Nature Medicine. Shaochen Chen (University of California...