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build brain-on-a-chip Australian researchers have grown brain cells on a semiconductor wafer patterned with nanowires which act as a scaffold to guide the growth of brain cells.
L
neurons need to connect synaptically, which form the basis of information processing in the brain during sensory input, cognition, learning and memory,” Dr Daria said. ead researcher from the Research
“Using a particular nanowire geometry,
School of Engineering at The Australian National
we have shown that the neurons are highly
University, Dr Vini Gautam said the scaffold
interconnected and predictably form functional
provides a platform to study the growth of the brain
circuits.”
cells and how they connect with each other, said
Dr Daria said it was important to build up
“The project will provide new insights into the
the appropriate environment where neurons can
development of neuro-prosthetics which can help
be predictably connected into functional circuits.
the brain recover after damage due to an accident,
“We were able to make predictive connections
stroke or degenerative neurological diseases,” Dr
between the neurons and demonstrated them to
Gautam said.
be functional with neurons firing synchronously,”
The study is claimed to be the first to show the
“This work could open up a new research
were functional and highly interconnected, opening
model that builds up a stronger connection between
the potential to apply their scaffold design for
materials nanotechnology with neuroscience.”
neuro-prosthetics.
The research was a multidisciplinary collaboration
Project group leader Dr Vincent Daria from
between physics, engineering and neuroscience.
The John Curtin School of Medical Research hopes
The nanowires were fabricated by a group led by
to use the brain-on-a-chip to understand how
Professor Chennupati Jagadish at the Research
neurons in the brain form computing circuits and
School of Physics and Engineering at ANU. The research has been published in Nano
eventually process information. “Unlike other prosthetics like an artificial limb,
30 | LAB+LIFE SCIENTIST - Jun/Jul 2017
he said.
neuronal circuits grown on the nanowire scaffolds
Letters.
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Image supplied by ANU
Australian researchers