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Wang Z, Zhang Y, Li Z, Wang H, Li N, Deng Y. Microfluidic Brain-on-a-Chip: From Key Technology to System Integration and Application. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023; 19:e2304427. [PMID: 37653590 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202304427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
As an ideal in vitro model, brain-on-chip (BoC) is an important tool to comprehensively elucidate brain characteristics. However, the in vitro model for the definition scope of BoC has not been universally recognized. In this review, BoC is divided into brain cells-on-a- chip, brain slices-on-a-chip, and brain organoids-on-a-chip according to the type of culture on the chip. Although these three microfluidic BoCs are constructed in different ways, they all use microfluidic chips as carrier tools. This method can better meet the needs of maintaining high culture activity on a chip for a long time. Moreover, BoC has successfully integrated cell biology, the biological material platform technology of microenvironment on a chip, manufacturing technology, online detection technology on a chip, and so on, enabling the chip to present structural diversity and high compatibility to meet different experimental needs and expand the scope of applications. Here, the relevant core technologies, challenges, and future development trends of BoC are summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohe Wang
- School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yongqian Zhang
- School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Zhe Li
- School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Hao Wang
- School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Nuomin Li
- School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Yulin Deng
- School of Medical Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
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2
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Marino A, Battaglini M, Lefevre MC, Ceccarelli MC, Ziaja K, Ciofani G. Sensorization of microfluidic brain-on-a-chip devices: Towards a new generation of integrated drug screening systems. Trends Analyt Chem 2023; 168:117319. [PMID: 37915756 PMCID: PMC7615229 DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2023.117319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Brain-on-a-chip (BoC) devices show typical characteristics of brain complexity, including the presence of different cell types, separation in different compartments, tissue-like three-dimensionality, and inclusion of the extracellular matrix components. Moreover, the incorporation of a vascular system mimicking the blood-brain barrier (BBB) makes BoC particularly attractive, since they can be exploited to test the brain delivery of different drugs and nanoformulations. In this review, we introduce the main innovations in BoC and BBB-on-a-chip models, especially focusing sensorization: electrical, electrochemical, and optical biosensors permit the real-time monitoring of different biological phenomena and markers, such as the release of growth factors, the expression of specific receptors/biomarkers, the activation of immune cells, cell viability, cell-cell interactions, and BBB crossing of drugs and nanoparticles. The recent improvements in signal amplification, miniaturization, and multiplication of the sensors are discussed in an effort to highlight their benefits versus limitations and delineate future challenges in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attilio Marino
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, Italy
| | - Matteo Battaglini
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, Italy
| | - Marie Celine Lefevre
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Ceccarelli
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, Italy
- Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, The Biorobotics Institute, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, Italy
| | - Kamil Ziaja
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, Italy
- Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, The Biorobotics Institute, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, Italy
- University of Aveiro, Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, Rua de Calouste Gulbenkian 1, 3810-074, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Gianni Ciofani
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Smart Bio-Interfaces, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, Italy
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3
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Young AT, Deal H, Rusch G, Pozdin VA, Brown AC, Daniele M. Simple Design for Membrane-Free Microphysiological Systems to Model the Blood-Tissue Barriers. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.20.563328. [PMID: 37961220 PMCID: PMC10634696 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.20.563328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPS) incorporate physiologically relevant microanatomy, mechanics, and cells to mimic tissue function. Reproducible and standardized in vitro models of tissue barriers, such as the blood-tissue interface (BTI), are critical for next-generation MPS applications in research and industry. Many models of the BTI are limited by the need for semipermeable membranes, use of homogenous cell populations, or 2D culture. These factors limit the relevant endothelial-epithelial contact and 3D transport, which would best mimic the BTI. Current models are also difficult to assemble, requiring precise alignment and layering of components. The work reported herein details the engineering of a BTI-on-a-chip (BTI Chip) that addresses current disadvantages by demonstrating a single layer, membrane-free design. Laminar flow profiles, photocurable hydrogel scaffolds, and human cell lines were used to construct a BTI Chip that juxtaposes an endothelium in direct contact with a 3D engineered tissue. A biomaterial composite, gelatin methacryloyl and 8-arm polyethylene glycol thiol, was used for in situ fabrication of a tissue structure within a Y-shaped microfluidic device. To produce the BTI, a laminar flow profile was achieved by flowing a photocurable precursor solution alongside phosphate buffered saline. Immediately after stopping flow, the scaffold underwent polymerization through a rapid exposure to UV light (<300 mJ·cm-2). After scaffold formation, blood vessel endothelial cells were introduced and allowed to adhere directly to the 3D tissue scaffold, without barriers or phase guides. Fabrication of the BTI Chip was demonstrated in both an epithelial tissue model and blood-brain barrier (BBB) model. In the epithelial model, scaffolds were seeded with human dermal fibroblasts. For the BBB models, scaffolds were seeded with the immortalized glial cell line, SVGP12. The BTI Chip microanatomy was analyzed post facto by immunohistochemistry, showing the uniform production of a patent endothelium juxtaposed with a 3D engineered tissue. Fluorescent tracer molecules were used to characterize the permeability of the BTI Chip. The BTI Chips were challenged with an efflux pump inhibitor, cyclosporine A, to assess physiological function and endothelial cell activation. Operation of physiologically relevant BTI Chips and a novel means for high-throughput MPS generation was demonstrated, enabling future development for drug candidate screening and fundamental biological investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashlyn T. Young
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 911 Oval Dr., Raleigh NC, 27695 (USA)
| | - Halston Deal
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 911 Oval Dr., Raleigh NC, 27695 (USA)
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Dr., Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Gabrielle Rusch
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 911 Oval Dr., Raleigh NC, 27695 (USA)
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Dr., Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Vladimir A. Pozdin
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL (USA)
- Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL (USA)
| | - Ashley C. Brown
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 911 Oval Dr., Raleigh NC, 27695 (USA)
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Dr., Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
| | - Michael Daniele
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 911 Oval Dr., Raleigh NC, 27695 (USA)
- Comparative Medicine Institute, North Carolina State University, 1060 William Moore Dr., Raleigh, NC 27606, USA
- Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL (USA)
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4
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Wei W, Cardes F, Hierlemann A, Modena MM. 3D In Vitro Blood-Brain-Barrier Model for Investigating Barrier Insults. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2205752. [PMID: 36782313 PMCID: PMC10104638 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202205752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Blood-brain-barrier (BBB) disruption has been associated with a variety of central-nervous-system diseases. In vitro BBB models enable to investigate how the barrier reacts to external injury events, commonly referred to as insults. Here, a human-cell-based BBB platform with integrated, transparent electrodes to monitor barrier tightness in real time at high resolution is presented. The BBB model includes human cerebral endothelial cells and primary pericytes and astrocytes in a 3D arrangement within a pump-free, open-microfluidic platform. With this platform, this study demonstrates that oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), which mimics the characteristics of an ischemic insult, induces a rapid remodeling of the cellular actin structures and subsequent morphological changes in the endothelial cells. High-resolution live imaging shows the formation of large actin stress-fiber bundles in the endothelial layer during OGD application, which ultimately leads to cell shrinkage and barrier breakage. Simultaneous electrical measurements evidence a rapid decrease of the barrier electrical resistance before the appearance of stress fibers, which indicates that the barrier function is compromised already before the appearance of drastic morphological changes. The results demonstrate that the BBB platform recapitulates the main barrier functions in vitro and can be used to investigate rapid reorganization of the BBB upon application of external stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wei
- ETH ZürichDepartment of Biosystems Science and EngineeringBio Engineering LaboratoryBasel4058Switzerland
| | - Fernando Cardes
- ETH ZürichDepartment of Biosystems Science and EngineeringBio Engineering LaboratoryBasel4058Switzerland
| | - Andreas Hierlemann
- ETH ZürichDepartment of Biosystems Science and EngineeringBio Engineering LaboratoryBasel4058Switzerland
| | - Mario M. Modena
- ETH ZürichDepartment of Biosystems Science and EngineeringBio Engineering LaboratoryBasel4058Switzerland
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5
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Rasile M, Lauranzano E, Faggiani E, Ravanelli MM, Colombo FS, Mirabella F, Corradini I, Malosio ML, Borreca A, Focchi E, Pozzi D, Giorgino T, Barajon I, Matteoli M. Maternal immune activation leads to defective brain-blood vessels and intracerebral hemorrhages in male offspring. EMBO J 2022; 41:e111192. [PMID: 36314682 PMCID: PMC9713716 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022111192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracerebral hemorrhages are recognized risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders and represent early biomarkers for cognitive dysfunction and mental disability, but the pathways leading to their occurrence are not well defined. We report that a single intrauterine exposure of the immunostimulant Poly I:C to pregnant mice at gestational day 9, which models a prenatal viral infection and the consequent maternal immune activation, induces the defective formation of brain vessels and causes intracerebral hemorrhagic events, specifically in male offspring. We demonstrate that maternal immune activation promotes the production of the TGF-β1 active form and the consequent enhancement of pSMAD1-5 in males' brain endothelial cells. TGF-β1, in combination with IL-1β, reduces the endothelial expression of CD146 and claudin-5, alters the endothelium-pericyte interplay resulting in low pericyte coverage, and increases hemorrhagic events in the adult offspring. By showing that exposure to Poly I:C at the beginning of fetal cerebral angiogenesis results in sex-specific alterations of brain vessels, we provide a mechanistic framework for the association between intragravidic infections and anomalies of the neural vasculature, which may contribute to neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Rasile
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | | | - Elisa Faggiani
- IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | - Margherita M Ravanelli
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | | | - Filippo Mirabella
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | - Irene Corradini
- IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly,Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Maria L Malosio
- IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly,Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Antonella Borreca
- IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly,Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Elisa Focchi
- Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Davide Pozzi
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | - Toni Giorgino
- Institute of Biophysics (IBF‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
| | - Isabella Barajon
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research CenterRozzanoItaly
| | - Michela Matteoli
- Department of Biomedical SciencesHumanitas UniversityPieve EmanueleItaly,Institute of Neuroscience (IN‐CNR)National Research Council of ItalyMilanItaly
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6
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Recent Development of Drug Delivery Systems through Microfluidics: From Synthesis to Evaluation. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020434. [PMID: 35214166 PMCID: PMC8880124 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional drug administration usually faces the problems of degradation and rapid excretion when crossing many biological barriers, leading to only a small amount of drugs arriving at pathological sites. Therapeutic drugs delivered by drug delivery systems to the target sites in a controlled manner greatly enhance drug efficacy, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetics with minimal side effects. Due to the distinct advantages of microfluidic techniques, microfluidic setups provide a powerful tool for controlled synthesis of drug delivery systems, precisely controlled drug release, and real-time observation of drug delivery to the desired location at the desired rate. In this review, we present an overview of recent advances in the preparation of nano drug delivery systems and carrier-free drug delivery microfluidic systems, as well as the construction of in vitro models on-a-chip for drug efficiency evaluation of drug delivery systems. We firstly introduce the synthesis of nano drug delivery systems, including liposomes, polymers, and inorganic compounds, followed by detailed descriptions of the carrier-free drug delivery system, including micro-reservoir and microneedle drug delivery systems. Finally, we discuss in vitro models developed on microfluidic devices for the evaluation of drug delivery systems, such as the blood–brain barrier model, vascular model, small intestine model, and so on. The opportunities and challenges of the applications of microfluidic platforms in drug delivery systems, as well as their clinical applications, are also discussed.
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7
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Abstract
In 2001, the concept of the neurovascular unit was introduced at the Stroke Progress Review Group meeting. The neurovascular unit is an important element of the health and disease status of blood vessels and nerves in the central nervous system. Since then, the neurovascular unit has attracted increasing interest from research teams, who have contributed greatly to the prevention, treatment, and prognosis of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. However, additional research is needed to establish an efficient, low-cost, and low-energy in vitro model of the neurovascular unit, as well as enable noninvasive observation of neurovascular units in vivo and in vitro. In this review, we first summarize the composition of neurovascular units, then investigate the efficacy of different types of stem cells and cell culture methods in the construction of neurovascular unit models, and finally assess the progress of imaging methods used to observe neurovascular units in recent years and their positive role in the monitoring and investigation of the mechanisms of a variety of central nervous system diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiwei Dong
- College of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Min Li
- College of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Feng Gao
- College of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Peifeng Wei
- College of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jian Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan Provinve, China
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8
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Lauranzano E, Rasile M, Matteoli M. Integrating Primary Astrocytes in a Microfluidic Model of the Blood-Brain Barrier. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2492:225-240. [PMID: 35733047 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2289-6_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
An in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model must be highly reproducible and imitate as much as possible the properties of the in vivo environment, from both the functional and anatomical point of view. In our latest work, a BBB prototype was implemented through the use of human primary brain cells and then integrated in a microfluidic platform (Lauranzano et al., Adv Biosyst 3:e1800335, 2019). Here we describe, step by step, the setting of a customized bio-mimetic platform, which uses human brain endothelial cells and primary astrocytic cells to allow the study of the complex interactions between the immune system and the brain in healthy and neuroinflammatory conditions. The model can be exploited to investigate the neuroimmune communication at the blood-brain interface and to examine the transmigration of patient-derived lymphocytes in order to envisage cutting-edge strategies to restore barrier integrity and block the immune cell influx into the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Rasile
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
| | - Michela Matteoli
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Milano, Italy
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9
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Yoon JK, Kim J, Shah Z, Awasthi A, Mahajan A, Kim Y. Advanced Human BBB-on-a-Chip: A New Platform for Alzheimer's Disease Studies. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2002285. [PMID: 34075728 PMCID: PMC8349886 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202002285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a unique vascular structure that serves as a molecular transport gateway for the maintenance of brain homeostasis. Chronic disruption or breakdown of the BBB reportedly leads to neurodegenerative diseases. Nonetheless, research on human BBB pathophysiology and drug development remains highly dependent on studies using inherently different animals. Moreover, more studies have shown that animal models are not appropriate in modeling Alzheimer's disease (AD), underlining the importance of in vitro models of the human BBB with physiological relevance. In this review, recent advances in human BBB-on-a-chip technologies are highlighted and their potential for pathogenesis studies and drug prescreening for AD treatment are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Kee Yoon
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Jaehoon Kim
- Mepsgen Co. Ltd., Seoul, 05836, Republic of Korea
| | - Zachary Shah
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Ashi Awasthi
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Advay Mahajan
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - YongTae Kim
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Mepsgen Co. Ltd., Seoul, 05836, Republic of Korea
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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10
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Rasile M, Lauranzano E, Mirabella F, Matteoli M. Neurological consequences of neurovascular unit and brain vasculature damages: potential risks for pregnancy infections and COVID-19-babies. FEBS J 2021; 289:3374-3392. [PMID: 33998773 PMCID: PMC8237015 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Intragravidic and perinatal infections, acting through either direct viral effect or immune-mediated responses, are recognized causes of liability for neurodevelopmental disorders in the progeny. The large amounts of epidemiological data and the wealth of information deriving from animal models of gestational infections have contributed to delineate, in the last years, possible underpinning mechanisms for this phenomenon, including defects in neuronal migration, impaired spine and synaptic development, and altered activation of microglia. Recently, dysfunctions of the neurovascular unit and anomalies of the brain vasculature have unexpectedly emerged as potential causes at the origin of behavioral abnormalities and psychiatric disorders consequent to prenatal and perinatal infections. This review aims to discuss the up-to-date literature evidence pointing to the neurovascular unit and brain vasculature damages as the etiological mechanisms in neurodevelopmental syndromes. We focus on the inflammatory events consequent to intragravidic viral infections as well as on the direct viral effects as the potential primary triggers. These authors hope that a timely review of the literature will help to envision promising research directions, also relevant for the present and future COVID-19 longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Rasile
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy.,IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy
| | | | - Filippo Mirabella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy
| | - Michela Matteoli
- IRCCS Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Rozzano, Italy.,CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Milano, Italy
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11
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Cameron T, Bennet T, Rowe EM, Anwer M, Wellington CL, Cheung KC. Review of Design Considerations for Brain-on-a-Chip Models. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:441. [PMID: 33921018 PMCID: PMC8071412 DOI: 10.3390/mi12040441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the need for sophisticated human in vitro models for integrative biology has motivated the development of organ-on-a-chip platforms. Organ-on-a-chip devices are engineered to mimic the mechanical, biochemical and physiological properties of human organs; however, there are many important considerations when selecting or designing an appropriate device for investigating a specific scientific question. Building microfluidic Brain-on-a-Chip (BoC) models from the ground-up will allow for research questions to be answered more thoroughly in the brain research field, but the design of these devices requires several choices to be made throughout the design development phase. These considerations include the cell types, extracellular matrix (ECM) material(s), and perfusion/flow considerations. Choices made early in the design cycle will dictate the limitations of the device and influence the end-point results such as the permeability of the endothelial cell monolayer, and the expression of cell type-specific markers. To better understand why the engineering aspects of a microfluidic BoC need to be influenced by the desired biological environment, recent progress in microfluidic BoC technology is compared. This review focuses on perfusable blood-brain barrier (BBB) and neurovascular unit (NVU) models with discussions about the chip architecture, the ECM used, and how they relate to the in vivo human brain. With increased knowledge on how to make informed choices when selecting or designing BoC models, the scientific community will benefit from shorter development phases and platforms curated for their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany Cameron
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (T.C.); (T.B.)
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Tanya Bennet
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (T.C.); (T.B.)
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Elyn M. Rowe
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (E.M.R.); (M.A.); (C.L.W.)
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Mehwish Anwer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (E.M.R.); (M.A.); (C.L.W.)
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Cheryl L. Wellington
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (E.M.R.); (M.A.); (C.L.W.)
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Karen C. Cheung
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada; (T.C.); (T.B.)
- Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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12
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Bae M, Yi HG, Jang J, Cho DW. Microphysiological Systems for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Central Nervous System. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:E855. [PMID: 32947879 PMCID: PMC7570039 DOI: 10.3390/mi11090855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are among the most severe problems in aging societies. Various conventional experimental models, including 2D and animal models, have been used to investigate the pathogenesis of (and therapeutic mechanisms for) neurodegenerative diseases. However, the physiological gap between humans and the current models remains a hurdle to determining the complexity of an irreversible dysfunction in a neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, preclinical research requires advanced experimental models, i.e., those more physiologically relevant to the native nervous system, to bridge the gap between preclinical stages and patients. The neural microphysiological system (neural MPS) has emerged as an approach to summarizing the anatomical, biochemical, and pathological physiology of the nervous system for investigation of neurodegenerative diseases. This review introduces the components (such as cells and materials) and fabrication methods for designing a neural MPS. Moreover, the review discusses future perspectives for improving the physiological relevance to native neural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihyeon Bae
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Chungam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang 37673, Korea;
| | - Hee-Gyeong Yi
- Department of Rural and Biosystems Engineering, College of Agricultural Sciences, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 61186, Korea
| | - Jinah Jang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Chungam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang 37673, Korea;
- Department of Creative IT Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Chungam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang 37673, Korea
- Institute of Convergence Science, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Dong-Woo Cho
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Chungam-ro, Nam-gu, Pohang 37673, Korea;
- Institute of Convergence Science, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 03722, Korea
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Katt ME, Shusta EV. In vitro Models of the Blood-Brain Barrier: Building in physiological complexity. Curr Opin Chem Eng 2020; 30:42-52. [PMID: 32905326 DOI: 10.1016/j.coche.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Development of brain therapeutics is significantly hampered by the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Classical transwell models are able to recapitulate many important aspects of drug transport across the BBB, but are not completely predictive of in vivo brain uptake. Species differences further complicate translation of experimental therapeutics from the benchtop to the clinic. Human BBB models offer some solutions to this problem, and by increasing device complexity both in terms of multicellularity, flow and physical architecture, physiological models of the BBB have been developed that can more faithfully model different aspects of transport and homeostasis BBB. Using these models, it may be possible to improve the predictive capacity in benchmarking candidate therapeutics, and to identify new druggable targets by studying multicellular interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moriah E Katt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Eric V Shusta
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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14
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Offeddu GS, Shin Y, Kamm RD. Microphysiological models of neurological disorders for drug development. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2019.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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