Nanowires let scientists watch astrocytes grow and branch in real time

Scientists from Johns Hopkins University and the National Research Council of Italy have developed a novel nanowire platform that enables astrocytes—the brain’s most abundant but previously difficult-to-study support cells—to grow in their natural star-like shape outside the body for the first time. Traditional glass culture dishes cause astrocytes to collapse into unnatural forms, obscuring their true behavior. The new platform uses transparent mats of glass nanowires that mimic the fibrous texture of brain tissue, allowing astrocytes to regain their characteristic branching morphology. This advancement is coupled with a high-resolution, label-free 3D imaging technique that lets researchers observe astrocyte growth and morphological changes in real time without invasive stains or fluorescent tags. This breakthrough has significant implications for neuroscience research and neuroengineering. Since astrocytes play critical roles in regulating neuronal communication, maintaining the blood-brain barrier, and supporting neural circuits, studying them in their authentic form opens new avenues for understanding neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s