Scientists Create Fully Synthetic Brain Tissue Model for Neurological Research

A new advance from the University of California, Riverside has produced the first fully synthetic brain tissue model, designed to eliminate reliance on animal-derived materials and provide a reproducible platform for studying neurological diseases. Traditional brain tissue models often depend on biological coatings such as laminin or fibrin to help cells survive, but these coatings are inconsistent and difficult to replicate. Rodent brains have also been used as stand-ins for human conditions, yet genetic and physiological differences limit accuracy. The UC Riverside innovation addresses these challenges by creating a synthetic scaffold that supports functional brain-like tissue without animal materials, aligning with FDA efforts to phase out animal testing in drug development.

The scaffold is built from polyethylene glycol, a polymer known for chemical neutrality. Normally, cells do not attach to PEG, but the researchers reshaped it into a maze of textured, interconnected pores. This porous structure allows cells to recognize and colonize the scaffold, forming organized neural networks. Once matured, these networks can exhibit donor-specific neural activity, enabling direct evaluation of drugs targeted to particular neurological conditions. The scaffold’s stability permits long-term studies, which is crucial because mature brain cells more accurately reflect real tissue function when investigating diseases or trauma.

The design process involved flowing water, ethanol, and PEG through nested glass capillaries. When the mixture reached an outer water stream, its components separated. A flash of light stabilized this separation, locking in the porous structure. The resulting matrix allows oxygen and nutrients to circulate efficiently, feeding donated stem cells and supporting growth. Doctoral candidate Prince David Okoro explained that this design ensures cells can organize and communicate in brain-like clusters, providing a more biologically faithful environment for research.

By turning an inert polymer into a functional neural scaffold, UC Riverside scientists have created a platform that could revolutionize neurological research. The synthetic tissue model offers stability, reproducibility, and humane testing conditions, paving the way for more accurate drug development and deeper insights into brain function. It represents a step toward a future where interconnected synthetic organ systems replace animal models, providing more reliable data and advancing both science and ethics.