In a major breakthrough, scientists have managed to create vascularised “mini-brains” using stem cells.  Mini-brains are small organs that resemble a real human brain.  It is hoped that the breakthrough may eventually allow researchers to develop treatments using stem cells for repairing brain damage.

While scientists have previously managed to grow mini-brain organoids, they were unable to keep them alive due a lack of blood vessels.  In this new research paper, scientists explain a technique that creates blood vessels using stem cells for the mini-brains, which supplies them with the oxygen they require to survive.

Christof Koch, of the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, says that the breakthrough is a “big deal”.  The next step will be getting brain cells wired into circuits so they can receive and process information.

The scientists used tiny millimetre long brains coated with endothelial cells (blood vessel cells).  The brains were able to grow blood vessels from the endothelial cells.  They were then implanted into mice where they stayed for 2 weeks.

The researchers found that the blood vessel networks grew deeply into the mini-brains while they were in the mice — which is a very positive sign.  It means that all sections of the brain would be able to receive oxygen.

It is the first time that scientists have grown fully vascularised mini-brains using stem cells.  As University of Calfiornia-Davis vascular neurosurgeon Ben Waldau explains:

“The whole idea with these organoids is to one day be able to develop a brain structure the patient has lost made with the patient’s own cells. We see the injuries still there on the CT scans, but there’s nothing we can do. So many of them are left behind with permanent neural deficits—paralysis, numbness, weakness—even after surgery and physical therapy.”

Source: Scientists grow mini-brains in lab with functioning blood vessels

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