title: A Commentary on the Need for 3D-Biologically Relevant In Vitro Environments to Investigate Astrocytes and Their Role in Central Nervous System Inflammation.
abstract: Astrocytes execute essential functions in the healthy CNS, whilst also being implicated as a limitation to functional regeneration and repair after injury. They respond to injury to minimize damage to healthy tissue whilst also attempting to seal the broken blood-brain-barrier, however, they impede recovery if they are persistent and form a permanent scar in the injured brain. As such, it is of great importance to understand the mechanism underlying the astrocytic response to injury, and this understanding is currently limited by the in vitro environments available to scientists. Biomaterials such as nanofibres and hydrogels offer great potential for the development of superior, 3D cell culture environments in which to study astrocyte behavior and phenotype. The implementation of such in vitro environments with a particularly interdisciplinary approach can improve the field's understanding of astrocytes, their role in central nervous system inflammation, and elucidate potential strategies to achieve functional regeneration.
authors: Research School of Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors: F L
authors: FL
authors: Maclean
authors: School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Williams
authors: Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.|Department of Neurology, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Australia.
authors: M K
authors: MK
authors: Horne
authors: Research School of Engineering, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. david.nisbet@anu.edu.au.
authors: D R
authors: DR
authors: Nisbet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D057139:Nanofibers; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels
keywords: 3D environment; Astrocytes; Biomaterials; Cell culture