Development of a nervous tissue construct for transplantation.
Top: Neurons are plated on two membranes and a neural network (black) is formed.
Bottom panels: Movement of a block attached to one membrane (yellow) via a computer controlled microstepper motor system divides the culture and progressively separates the halves. As the microstepper motor moves the top membrane, the portion of the axonal bundles crossing between the top and bottom membranes is extended inducing stretch growth of the axon bundles. These cultures are then embedded in collagen and rolled into a tube that facilitates removal from the device. This construct is then transplanted to bridge spinal cord lesions.

Image Credit: Douglas H. Smith, MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine