Since brain diseases are difficult to treat,... researchers have been considering cell transplants as an option.
Now, Korean researchers have developed an incubator-like system for cultivating treatment cells.
Park Se-young tells us more.
This six-year-old patient was diagnosed with brain inflammation last year, …and has been hospitalized with symptoms of paralysis.
She's currently undergoing rehabilitation, but a full recovery will not be easy as damaged brain cells cannot be repaired.
"There is no way to regenerate dead brain cells. That's why research has been focusing on nerve cell transplants ever since the study on stem cells began"
While cell transplants have been considered as a treatment option, existing technology has been unable to cultivate cells in large enough quantities.
Now, Korean researchers have developed a culture system for brain cells by using human tissue as the culture medium …to reproduce a brain-like environment.
When the newly-grown cells were transplanted into mice with cerebral apoplexy, the cells demonstrated high activity levels and were alive longer than cells grown in existing culture media.
The results show that the new system could cultivate brain cells safely and efficiently just like an incubator.
"Since there are several parts in brain tissues and different types of neurons, we're working on creating specific cultivation platforms for specialized treatment cells."
The study may help more people make a full recovery from brain diseases.
Park Se-young, Arirang News.
