Scientists at Stanford University in California for the first time have reproduced the nerve contour of the brain, creating a laboratory neural scheme that simulates the path of transmission of pain signals from skin to the cerebral cortex. This achievement can be a breakthrough in chronic pain studies and facilitate the development of new treatments, including non -opioid painkillers that do not cause addiction.
The development, headed by Romanian scientist Sergeu Pashka, is an important step towards improving pain research methods. In 2017, Pasha introduced the concept of assembly, which is a combination of organoids - cultivated cellular structures, which can reproduce the functional and structural properties of organs.
To create a new neural network, researchers used stem cells obtained from human skin, and have grown four types of nerve tissue organoids, including sensory neurons of the skin and neurons of the cerebral cortex. After these organoids are combined in one vessel, after 100 days they grew into a single assembly assembly about 1 cm in length, numbered about 4 million cells. This system demonstrated synchronized electrical activity between all its parts.
To test the work of the model, researchers used capsaicin, a substance contained in chili pepper. After its use in the assembly, a powerful reaction appeared instantly: electrical signals spread from the "skin" to the "brain", which confirmed the performance of the neural network.
Although the created system does not feel pain in the traditional sense of the word, it effectively imitates the transmission of pain signals, which in the real body fall into the brain, where the emotional component of pain is formed. Sergiu Pashka emphasizes that such a model can be an alternative to the use of animals in research and to promote the development of new painkillers without the risk of addiction.
Stanford University has already applied for patenting of this technology, although the decision to commercialize its commercialization has not yet been made.
