Insight into the complex actions of the brain requires advanced research tools. Here we demonstrate a novel silk-collagen-based 3D engineered model of neural tissue resembling brain-like architecture. The model can be used to study neuronal network assembly, axonal guidance, cell-cell interactions and electrical activity.
Chwalek, K., Sood, D., Cantley, W. L., White, J. D., Tang-Schomer, M., Kaplan, D. L. Engineered 3D Silk-collagen-based Model of Polarized Neural Tissue. J. Vis. Exp. (104), e52970, doi:10.3791/52970 (2015).