According to a study published Aug. 26 in Advanced Healthcare Materials, researchers at Rice University and ETH Zurich have developed a new platform called ‘hydroMEA’ to grow human-derived nerve cells alongside myelin-forming Schwann cells in a three-dimensional environment. This system allows scientists to measure functional myelin in the lab by tracking an increase in the speed of electrical signals traveling across connected nerve networks, providing a novel model for studying neurological injury, disease, and potential treatments.
Engineering Hydrogels for 3D Nerve Cell Growth
Conventional lab surfaces like tissue culture plastic make cells easy to view, but they are far more rigid than biological tissues like the brain. Because of this mismatch, cells miss out on the vital physical cues they experience inside the human body, according to Rice assistant professor Christina Tringides. To solve this, researchers utilized hydrogels—soft, water-rich materials whose stiffness can be adjusted to closely mirror natural nerve tissue. Human-derived sensory neurons survived in these hydrogels for more than 100 days.
Did you know? Schwann cells support healthy nerve function in the peripheral nervous system by wrapping around axons—the long fibers that carry nerve signals—to form a protective coating known as myelin.
Measuring Functional Myelin with High-Density Arrays
The research team combined the custom hydrogel with small channels designed to guide cell growth, mounting the system onto a high-density multielectrode array from Maxwell Biosystems. This device records neuronal activity in real time. While microscopic imaging confirmed that myelin formed around nerve fibers, electrical measurements provided the critical functional proof. Signals traveled faster when neurons grew alongside Schwann cells, matching the conduction velocities typically seen in human sensory nerves, as noted by Tringides.
Applications in Nerve Damage and Demyelination Studies
With the hydroMEA platform established, scientists can now observe how trauma or exposure to toxins impacts neurons and myelin. The system creates a controlled environment to test whether specific drugs or electrical stimulation can prevent demyelination—the loss or damage of myelin—or promote remyelination after injury. According to Tringides, the platform allows researchers to induce demyelination in networks and actively study how treatments can help nerve tissue recover.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hydroMEA platform?
Developed by researchers at Rice University and ETH Zurich, hydroMEA combines human-derived nerve cells, tunable hydrogels, and high-density multielectrode arrays to study nerve function and myelin in a three-dimensional lab setting.
Why is functional myelin important in lab models?
While microscopes show physical structure, electrical measurements prove that myelin actually works by speeding up signal transmission across nerve cells at rates comparable to human sensory nerves.
How long can neurons survive in the hydrogel system?
According to the study findings, human-derived sensory neurons survived for more than 100 days within the soft, water-rich hydrogels.
Want to stay updated on the latest breakthroughs in tissue engineering and neurological research? Subscribe to our newsletter or explore our archives for more in-depth reporting.
Related reading
- State of Decay 3 Beta Expected Late This Year
- KnowBe4 Launches Google Workspace Email Security Defend
- Identifying ALS Progression: Unlocking N-Acyl Taurine’s Potential as a Biomarker and New Treatment Approach for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis” Keywords: ALS blood biomarker, N-acyl taurine, disease progression, new treatment strategy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, ALS research, neurodegenerative disorders. (archyworldys.com)