3D-Printed Neurons

Coming back to 3D printing.  Last year I posted about designs for printed KAFOs (see posts from April 20, 2017 and May 15, 2017).  Now researchers are printing “neuronal stem cells derived from adult human cells on a 3D-printed guide” (quoting from study co-author Michael McAlpine).  That’s a mouthful.  What it means it that 3D-printed cells are put on top of a silicon 3D-printed guide, then the guide is surgically placed in the injured part of the spinal cord.  The guide is a bridge across the injury site.  If nerve cells above and below can connect, there is a good possibility that the living cells will work together for more recovery.