This is cool but I don't see neural stem cells grafting and this hydrogel have clinical applications in humans, because the brain is very difficult to access, even via the CSF (diffusion is very limited), without very invasive way like trepanation.
I think a more realistic clinical approach is astrocytes to neurons reprogramming using vectors like AAV9 to pass the blood brain barrier and activate genes to convert them [1] to different types based on the genes (NGN2: glutamatergic, ASCL1: GABAergic, dopaminergic, cholinergic...). This has the added benefit of reduced cancer risk (direct reprogramming) and astrocytes have a regional identity [2].
> because the brain is nearly inaccesible, even via the CSF (diffusion is very limited), without very invasive way like trepanation.
If transorbital lobotomy is possible, presumably transorbital endoscopic hydrogel injection would also be possible, no?
Also, what about “going in through the out door” — entering the lymphatic system at the neck, and then endoscoping up into the brain’s glymphatic channels, and further back into the brain itself?
What would happen if we took a pill and grew a ton of extra neurons in our digestive system? We’ve got about 100 million neurons in our gut, which is comparable to a duck. I feel like it’d probably just be weird.
Don't we already have a ton of neurons in our digestive system?
I believe they are the ones that give us the voice in the back of our head that says that yes we can buy that entire box of popsicles and not eat but one at a time.
jlpom|3 years ago
I think a more realistic clinical approach is astrocytes to neurons reprogramming using vectors like AAV9 to pass the blood brain barrier and activate genes to convert them [1] to different types based on the genes (NGN2: glutamatergic, ASCL1: GABAergic, dopaminergic, cholinergic...). This has the added benefit of reduced cancer risk (direct reprogramming) and astrocytes have a regional identity [2].
[1]: https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.15252/emmm.202114797 [2]: https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/sciadv.abe8978
derefr|3 years ago
If transorbital lobotomy is possible, presumably transorbital endoscopic hydrogel injection would also be possible, no?
Also, what about “going in through the out door” — entering the lymphatic system at the neck, and then endoscoping up into the brain’s glymphatic channels, and further back into the brain itself?
Rastonbury|3 years ago
patrakov|3 years ago
Retric|3 years ago
The hydrogel for scaffolding it doesn’t promote neuronal growth on its own. Still quite promising.
wincy|3 years ago
readthenotes1|3 years ago
I believe they are the ones that give us the voice in the back of our head that says that yes we can buy that entire box of popsicles and not eat but one at a time.