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Lau K, Kotzur R, Richter F. Blood-brain barrier alterations and their impact on Parkinson's disease pathogenesis and therapy. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:37. [PMID: 39075566 PMCID: PMC11285262 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00430-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence for blood-brain barrier (BBB) alterations in Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder with rapidly rising prevalence. Altered tight junction and transporter protein levels, accumulation of α-synuclein and increase in inflammatory processes lead to extravasation of blood molecules and vessel degeneration. This could result in a self-perpetuating pathophysiology of inflammation and BBB alteration, which contribute to neurodegeneration. Toxin exposure or α-synuclein over-expression in animal models has been shown to initiate similar pathologies, providing a platform to study underlying mechanisms and therapeutic interventions. Here we provide a comprehensive review of the current knowledge on BBB alterations in PD patients and how rodent models that replicate some of these changes can be used to study disease mechanisms. Specific challenges in assessing the BBB in patients and in healthy controls are discussed. Finally, a potential role of BBB alterations in disease pathogenesis and possible implications for therapy are explored. The interference of BBB alterations with current and novel therapeutic strategies requires more attention. Brain region-specific BBB alterations could also open up novel opportunities to target specifically vulnerable neuronal subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Lau
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rebecca Kotzur
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Franziska Richter
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 17, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany.
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Kantawala B, Shariff S, Ramadan N, Fawaz V, Hassan Y, Mugisha N, Yenkoyan K, Nazir A, Uwishema O. Revolutionizing neurotherapeutics: blood-brain barrier-on-a-chip technologies for precise drug delivery. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2024; 86:2794-2804. [PMID: 38694300 PMCID: PMC11060226 DOI: 10.1097/ms9.0000000000001887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a critical neurovascular unit regulating substances' passage from the bloodstream to the brain. Its selective permeability poses significant challenges in drug delivery for neurological disorders. Conventional methods often fail due to the BBB's complex structure. Aim The study aims to shed light on their pivotal role in revolutionizing neurotherapeutics and explores the transformative potential of BBB-on-a-Chip technologies in drug delivery research to comprehensively review BBB-on-a-chip technologies, focusing on their design, and substantiate advantages over traditional models. Methods A detailed analysis of existing literature and experimental data pertaining to BBB-on-a-Chip technologies was conducted. Various models, their physiological relevance, and innovative design considerations were examined through databases like Scopus, EbscoHost, PubMed Central, and Medline. Case studies demonstrating enhanced drug transport through BBB-on-a-Chip models were also reviewed, highlighting their potential impact on neurological disorders. Results BBB-on-a-Chip models offer a revolutionary approach, accurately replicating BBB properties. These microphysiological systems enable high-throughput screening, real-time monitoring of drug transport, and precise localization of drugs. Case studies demonstrate their efficacy in enhancing drug penetration, offering potential therapies for diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Conclusion BBB-on-a-Chip models represent a transformative milestone in drug delivery research. Their ability to replicate BBB complexities, offer real-time monitoring, and enhance drug transport holds immense promise for neurological disorders. Continuous research and development are imperative to unlock BBB-on-a-Chip models' full potential, ushering in a new era of targeted, efficient, and safer drug therapies for challenging neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burhan Kantawala
- Oli Health Magazine Organization, Research and Education
- Neuroscience Laboratory, Cobrain Centre
| | - Sanobar Shariff
- Oli Health Magazine Organization, Research and Education
- Neuroscience Laboratory, Cobrain Centre
| | - Nagham Ramadan
- Oli Health Magazine Organization, Research and Education
- Faculty of Medicine
| | - Violette Fawaz
- Oli Health Magazine Organization, Research and Education
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Youmna Hassan
- Oli Health Magazine Organization, Research and Education
- Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Ahfad University for Women, Omdurman, Sudan
| | - Nadine Mugisha
- Oli Health Magazine Organization, Research and Education
- Faculty of Global Surgery, University of Global Health Equity, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Konstantin Yenkoyan
- Neuroscience Laboratory, Cobrain Centre
- Department of Biochemistry, Yerevan State Medical University named after Mkhitar Heratsi, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Abubakar Nazir
- Oli Health Magazine Organization, Research and Education
- Department of Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
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Badawi AH, Mohamad NA, Stanslas J, Kirby BP, Neela VK, Ramasamy R, Basri H. In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Models for Neuroinfectious Diseases: A Narrative Review. Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:1344-1373. [PMID: 38073104 PMCID: PMC11092920 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x22666231207114346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a complex, dynamic, and adaptable barrier between the peripheral blood system and the central nervous system. While this barrier protects the brain and spinal cord from inflammation and infection, it prevents most drugs from reaching the brain tissue. With the expanding interest in the pathophysiology of BBB, the development of in vitro BBB models has dramatically evolved. However, due to the lack of a standard model, a range of experimental protocols, BBB-phenotype markers, and permeability flux markers was utilized to construct in vitro BBB models. Several neuroinfectious diseases are associated with BBB dysfunction. To conduct neuroinfectious disease research effectively, there stems a need to design representative in vitro human BBB models that mimic the BBB's functional and molecular properties. The highest necessity is for an in vitro standardised BBB model that accurately represents all the complexities of an intact brain barrier. Thus, this in-depth review aims to describe the optimization and validation parameters for building BBB models and to discuss previous research on neuroinfectious diseases that have utilized in vitro BBB models. The findings in this review may serve as a basis for more efficient optimisation, validation, and maintenance of a structurally- and functionally intact BBB model, particularly for future studies on neuroinfectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Hussein Badawi
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nur Afiqah Mohamad
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
- Centre for Foundation Studies, Lincoln University College, 47301, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Johnson Stanslas
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Brian Patrick Kirby
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Vasantha Kumari Neela
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Rajesh Ramasamy
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hamidon Basri
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Graybill PM, Jacobs EJ, Jana A, Agashe A, Nain AS, Davalos RV. Ultra-thin and ultra-porous nanofiber networks as a basement-membrane mimic. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4565-4578. [PMID: 37772328 PMCID: PMC10623910 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00304c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Current basement membrane (BM) mimics used for modeling endothelial and epithelial barriers in vitro do not faithfully recapitulate key in vivo physiological properties such as BM thickness, porosity, stiffness, and fibrous composition. Here, we use networks of precisely arranged nanofibers to form ultra-thin (∼3 μm thick) and ultra-porous (∼90%) BM mimics for blood-brain barrier modeling. We show that these nanofiber networks enable close contact between endothelial monolayers and pericytes across the membrane, which are known to regulate barrier tightness. Cytoskeletal staining and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements reveal barrier formation on nanofiber membranes integrated within microfluidic devices and transwell inserts. Further, significantly higher TEER values indicate a biological benefit for co-cultures formed on the ultra-thin nanofiber membranes. Our BM mimic overcomes critical technological challenges in forming co-cultures that are in proximity and facilitate cell-cell contact, while still being constrained to their respective sides. We anticipate that our nanofiber networks will find applications in drug discovery, cell migration, and barrier dysfunction studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip M Graybill
- Bioelectromechanical Systems Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Edward J Jacobs
- Bioelectromechanical Systems Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Aniket Jana
- Spinneret-Based Tunable Engineering Parameters (STEP) Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Atharva Agashe
- Spinneret-Based Tunable Engineering Parameters (STEP) Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Amrinder S Nain
- Spinneret-Based Tunable Engineering Parameters (STEP) Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Rafael V Davalos
- Bioelectromechanical Systems Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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Nair AL, Groenendijk L, Overdevest R, Fowke TM, Annida R, Mocellin O, de Vries HE, Wevers NR. Human BBB-on-a-chip reveals barrier disruption, endothelial inflammation, and T cell migration under neuroinflammatory conditions. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1250123. [PMID: 37818458 PMCID: PMC10561300 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1250123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly selective barrier that ensures a homeostatic environment for the central nervous system (CNS). BBB dysfunction, inflammation, and immune cell infiltration are hallmarks of many CNS disorders, including multiple sclerosis and stroke. Physiologically relevant human in vitro models of the BBB are essential to improve our understanding of its function in health and disease, identify novel drug targets, and assess potential new therapies. We present a BBB-on-a-chip model comprising human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) cultured in a microfluidic platform that allows parallel culture of 40 chips. In each chip, a perfused HBMEC vessel was grown against an extracellular matrix gel in a membrane-free manner. BBBs-on-chips were exposed to varying concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) to mimic inflammation. The effect of the inflammatory conditions was studied by assessing the BBBs-on-chips' barrier function, cell morphology, and expression of cell adhesion molecules. Primary human T cells were perfused through the lumen of the BBBs-on-chips to study T cell adhesion, extravasation, and migration. Under inflammatory conditions, the BBBs-on-chips showed decreased trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER), increased permeability to sodium fluorescein, and aberrant cell morphology in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, we observed increased expression of cell adhesion molecules and concomitant monocyte adhesion. T cells extravasated from the inflamed blood vessels and migrated towards a C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCL12) gradient. T cell adhesion was significantly reduced and a trend towards decreased migration was observed in presence of Natalizumab, an antibody drug that blocks very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) and is used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In conclusion, we demonstrate a high-throughput microfluidic model of the human BBB that can be used to model neuroinflammation and assess anti-inflammatory and barrier-restoring interventions to fight neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arya Lekshmi Nair
- MIMETAS BV, Oegstgeest, Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience – Neuroinfection and Neuroinflammation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Helga E. de Vries
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience – Neuroinfection and Neuroinflammation, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Chavarria D, Abbaspour A, Celestino N, Shah N, Sankar S, Baker AB. A high throughput blood-brain barrier model incorporating shear stress with improved predictive power for drug discovery. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2023; 17:044105. [PMID: 37614679 PMCID: PMC10444201 DOI: 10.1063/5.0150887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier is a key structure regulating the health of the brain and access of drugs and pathogens to neural tissue. Shear stress is a key regulator of the blood-brain barrier; however, the commonly used multi-well vitro models of the blood-brain barrier do not incorporate shear stress. In this work, we designed and validated a high-throughput system for simulating the blood-brain barrier that incorporates physiological flow and incorporates an optimized cellular model of the blood-brain barrier. This system can perform assays of blood-brain barrier function with shear stress, with 48 independent assays simultaneously. Using the high throughput assay, we conducted drug screening assays to explore the effects of compounds for opening or closing blood-brain barrier. Our studies revealed that assays with shear stress were more predictive and were able to identify compounds known to modify the blood-brain barrier function while static assays were not. Overall, we demonstrate an optimized, high throughput assay for simulating the blood-brain barrier that incorporates shear stress and is practical for use in drug screening and other high throughput studies of toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Chavarria
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Ali Abbaspour
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Natalie Celestino
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - Nehali Shah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | | | - Aaron B. Baker
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:. Tel.:+512-232-7114
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Farahani MK, Gharibshahian M, Rezvani A, Vaez A. Breast cancer brain metastasis: from etiology to state-of-the-art modeling. J Biol Eng 2023; 17:41. [PMID: 37386445 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-023-00352-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, breast carcinoma is the most common form of malignancy and the main cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide. The metastasis of cancer cells from the primary tumor site to other organs in the body, notably the lungs, bones, brain, and liver, is what causes breast cancer to ultimately be fatal. Brain metastases occur in as many as 30% of patients with advanced breast cancer, and the 1-year survival rate of these patients is around 20%. Many researchers have focused on brain metastasis, but due to its complexities, many aspects of this process are still relatively unclear. To develop and test novel therapies for this fatal condition, pre-clinical models are required that can mimic the biological processes involved in breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM). The application of many breakthroughs in the area of tissue engineering has resulted in the development of scaffold or matrix-based culture methods that more accurately imitate the original extracellular matrix (ECM) of metastatic tumors. Furthermore, specific cell lines are now being used to create three-dimensional (3D) cultures that can be used to model metastasis. These 3D cultures satisfy the requirement for in vitro methodologies that allow for a more accurate investigation of the molecular pathways as well as a more in-depth examination of the effects of the medication being tested. In this review, we talk about the latest advances in modeling BCBM using cell lines, animals, and tissue engineering methods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maliheh Gharibshahian
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran
| | - Alireza Rezvani
- Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Ahmad Vaez
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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Wanat K, Brzezińska E. Chromatographic Data in Statistical Analysis of BBB Permeability Indices. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:623. [PMID: 37504989 PMCID: PMC10384010 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13070623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability is an essential phenomena when considering the treatment of neurological disorders as well as in the case of central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects caused by peripherally acting drugs. The presented work contains statistical analyses and the correlation assessment of the analyzed group of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) with their BBB-permeability data collected from the literature (such as computational log BB; Kp,uu,brain, and CNS+/- groups). A number of regression models were constructed in order to observe the connections between the APIs' physicochemical properties in combination with their retention data from the chromatographic experiments (TLC and HPLC) and the indices of bioavailability in the CNS. Conducted analyses confirm that descriptors significant in BBB permeability modeling are hydrogen bond acceptors and donors, physiological charge, or energy of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital. These molecular descriptors were the basis, along with the chromatographic data from the TLC in log BB regression analyses. Normal-phase TLC data showed a significant contribution to the creation of the log BB regression model using the multiple linear regression method. The model using them showed a good predictive value at the level of R2 = 0.87. Models for Kp,uu,brain resulted in lower statistics: R2 = 0.56 for the group of 23 APIs with the participation of k IAM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Wanat
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Brzezińska
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Lodz, Poland
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Alves ADH, Nucci MP, Ennes do Valle NM, Missina JM, Mamani JB, Rego GNA, Dias OFM, Garrigós MM, de Oliveira FA, Gamarra LF. Current overview of induced pluripotent stem cell-based blood-brain barrier-on-a-chip. World J Stem Cells 2023; 15:632-653. [PMID: 37424947 PMCID: PMC10324508 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v15.i6.632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) show great ability to differentiate into any tissue, making them attractive candidates for pathophysiological investigations. The rise of organ-on-a-chip technology in the past century has introduced a novel way to make in vitro cell cultures that more closely resemble their in vivo environments, both structural and functionally. The literature still lacks consensus on the best conditions to mimic the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for drug screening and other personalized therapies. The development of models based on BBB-on-a-chip using iPSCs is promising and is a potential alternative to the use of animals in research.
AIM To analyze the literature for BBB models on-a-chip involving iPSCs, describe the microdevices, the BBB in vitro construction, and applications.
METHODS We searched for original articles indexed in PubMed and Scopus that used iPSCs to mimic the BBB and its microenvironment in microfluidic devices. Thirty articles were identified, wherein only 14 articles were finally selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data compiled from the selected articles were organized into four topics: (1) Microfluidic devices design and fabrication; (2) characteristics of the iPSCs used in the BBB model and their differentiation conditions; (3) BBB-on-a-chip reconstruction process; and (4) applications of BBB microfluidic three-dimensional models using iPSCs.
RESULTS This study showed that BBB models with iPSCs in microdevices are quite novel in scientific research. Important technological advances in this area regarding the use of commercial BBB-on-a-chip were identified in the most recent articles by different research groups. Conventional polydimethylsiloxane was the most used material to fabricate in-house chips (57%), whereas few studies (14.3%) adopted polymethylmethacrylate. Half the models were constructed using a porous membrane made of diverse materials to separate the channels. iPSC sources were divergent among the studies, but the main line used was IMR90-C4 from human fetal lung fibroblast (41.2%). The cells were differentiated through diverse and complex processes either to endothelial or neural cells, wherein only one study promoted differentiation inside the chip. The construction process of the BBB-on-a-chip involved previous coating mostly with fibronectin/collagen IV (39.3%), followed by cell seeding in single cultures (36%) or co-cultures (64%) under controlled conditions, aimed at developing an in vitro BBB that mimics the human BBB for future applications.
CONCLUSION This review evidenced technological advances in the construction of BBB models using iPSCs. Nonetheless, a definitive BBB-on-a-chip has not yet been achieved, hindering the applicability of the models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariana Penteado Nucci
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo 05529-060, São Paulo, Brazil
- Hospital das Clínicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-010, São Paulo, Brazil
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Mármol I, Abizanda-Campo S, Ayuso JM, Ochoa I, Oliván S. Towards Novel Biomimetic In Vitro Models of the Blood-Brain Barrier for Drug Permeability Evaluation. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10050572. [PMID: 37237642 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10050572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Current available animal and in vitro cell-based models for studying brain-related pathologies and drug evaluation face several limitations since they are unable to reproduce the unique architecture and physiology of the human blood-brain barrier. Because of that, promising preclinical drug candidates often fail in clinical trials due to their inability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Therefore, novel models that allow us to successfully predict drug permeability through the BBB would accelerate the implementation of much-needed therapies for glioblastoma, Alzheimer's disease, and further disorders. In line with this, organ-on-chip models of the BBB are an interesting alternative to traditional models. These microfluidic models provide the necessary support to recreate the architecture of the BBB and mimic the fluidic conditions of the cerebral microvasculature. Herein, the most recent advances in organ-on-chip models for the BBB are reviewed, focusing on their potential to provide robust and reliable data regarding drug candidate ability to reach the brain parenchyma. We point out recent achievements and challenges to overcome in order to advance in more biomimetic in vitro experimental models based on OOO technology. The minimum requirements that should be met to be considered biomimetic (cellular types, fluid flow, and tissular architecture), and consequently, a solid alternative to in vitro traditional models or animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Mármol
- Tissue Microenvironment (TME) Lab, Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- Institute for Health Research Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sara Abizanda-Campo
- Tissue Microenvironment (TME) Lab, Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Jose M Ayuso
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, and Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Ignacio Ochoa
- Tissue Microenvironment (TME) Lab, Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- Institute for Health Research Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
- CIBER Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Oliván
- Tissue Microenvironment (TME) Lab, Aragón Institute of Engineering Research (I3A), University of Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
- Institute for Health Research Aragón (IIS Aragón), 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
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Gonzales-Aloy E, Ahmed-Cox A, Tsoli M, Ziegler DS, Kavallaris M. From cells to organoids: The evolution of blood-brain barrier technology for modelling drug delivery in brain cancer. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 196:114777. [PMID: 36931346 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Brain cancer remains the deadliest cancer. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is impenetrable to most drugs and is a complex 3D network of multiple cell types including endothelial cells, astrocytes, and pericytes. In brain cancers, the BBB becomes disrupted during tumor progression and forms the blood-brain tumor barrier (BBTB). To advance therapeutic development, there is a critical need for physiologically relevant BBB in vitro models. 3D cell systems are emerging as valuable preclinical models to accelerate discoveries for diseases. Given the versatility and capability of 3D cell models, their potential for modelling the BBB and BBTB is reviewed. Technological advances of BBB models and challenges of in vitro modelling the BBTB, and application of these models as tools for assessing therapeutics and nano drug delivery, are discussed. Quantitative, in vitro BBB models that are predictive of effective brain cancer therapies will be invaluable for accelerating advancing new treatments to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estrella Gonzales-Aloy
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Center, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia; Australian Center for NanoMedicine, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Aria Ahmed-Cox
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Center, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia; Australian Center for NanoMedicine, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia; Katharina Gaus Light Microscopy Facility, Mark Wainright Analytical Center, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Maria Tsoli
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Center, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - David S Ziegler
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Center, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia; Kids Cancer Center, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Maria Kavallaris
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Research Center, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia; Australian Center for NanoMedicine, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia; UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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12
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Sánchez-Dengra B, González-Álvarez I, Bermejo M, González-Álvarez M. Access to the CNS: Strategies to overcome the BBB. Int J Pharm 2023; 636:122759. [PMID: 36801479 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.122759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits the access of substances to the central nervous system (CNS) which hinders the treatment of pathologies affecting the brain and the spinal cord. Nowadays, research is focus on new strategies to overcome the BBB and can treat the pathologies affecting the CNS are needed. In this review, the different strategies that allow and increase the access of substances to the CNS are analysed and extended commented, not only invasive strategies but also non-invasive ones. The invasive techniques include the direct injection into the brain parenchyma or the CSF and the therapeutic opening of the BBB, while the non-invasive techniques include the use of alternative routes of administration (nose-to-brain route), the inhibition of efflux transporters (as it is important to prevent the drug efflux from the brain and enhance the therapeutic efficiency), the chemical modification of the molecules (prodrugs and chemical drug delivery systems (CDDS)) and the use of nanocarriers. In the future, knowledge about nanocarriers to treat CNS diseases will continue to increase, but the use of other strategies such as drug repurposing or drug reprofiling, which are cheaper and less time consuming, may limit its transfer to society. The main conclusion is that the combination of different strategies may be the most interesting approach to increase the access of substances to the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Sánchez-Dengra
- Pharmacokinetics and Pharmaceutical Technology Area, Department of Engineering, Miguel Hernandez University, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| | - Isabel González-Álvarez
- Pharmacokinetics and Pharmaceutical Technology Area, Department of Engineering, Miguel Hernandez University, 03550 Alicante, Spain.
| | - Marival Bermejo
- Pharmacokinetics and Pharmaceutical Technology Area, Department of Engineering, Miguel Hernandez University, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| | - Marta González-Álvarez
- Pharmacokinetics and Pharmaceutical Technology Area, Department of Engineering, Miguel Hernandez University, 03550 Alicante, Spain
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13
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Guo Y, Chen X, Gong P, Li G, Yao W, Yang W. The Gut-Organ-Axis Concept: Advances the Application of Gut-on-Chip Technology. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044089. [PMID: 36835499 PMCID: PMC9962350 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The intestine is considered to be a vital digestive organ to absorb nutrients and is the largest immune organ, while numerous microorganisms coexist with the host. It is well known that the complex interactions between the gut microbiota and the host's immune system inevitably affect the function of other organs, creating an "axis" between them. During the past few years, a new technique based mainly on microfluidics and cell biology has been developed to emulate the structure, function, and microenvironment of the human gut, called the "gut-on-chip". This microfluidic chip provides insight into key aspects of gut function in health and disease, such as the gut-brain axis, gut-liver axis, gut-kidney axis, and gut-lung axis. In this review, we first describe the basic theory of the gut axis and the various composition and parameter monitoring of the gut microarray systems, as well as summarize the development and emerging advances in the gut-organ-on-chip, with a focus on the host-gut flora and nutrient metabolism, and highlight their role in pathophysiological studies. In addition, this paper discusses the challenges and prospects for the current development and further use of the gut-organ-on-chip platform.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pin Gong
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-13772196479
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14
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Tang B, Liu M, Dietzel A. Low-Cost Impedance Camera for Cell Distribution Monitoring. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:281. [PMID: 36832047 PMCID: PMC9954133 DOI: 10.3390/bios13020281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is widely recognized as a powerful tool in biomedical research. For example, it allows detection and monitoring of diseases, measuring of cell density in bioreactors, and characterizing the permeability of tight junctions in barrier-forming tissue models. However, with single-channel measurement systems, only integral information is obtained without spatial resolution. Here we present a low-cost multichannel impedance measurement set-up capable of mapping cell distributions in a fluidic environment by using a microelectrode array (MEA) realized in 4-level printed circuit board (PCB) technology including layers for shielding, interconnections, and microelectrodes. The array of 8 × 8 gold microelectrode pairs was connected to home-built electric circuitry consisting of commercial components such as programmable multiplexers and an analog front-end module which allows the acquisition and processing of electrical impedances. For a proof-of-concept, the MEA was wetted in a 3D printed reservoir into which yeast cells were locally injected. Impedance maps were recorded at 200 kHz which correlate well with the optical images showing the yeast cell distribution in the reservoir. Blurring from parasitic currents slightly disturbing the impedance maps could be eliminated by deconvolution using an experimentally determined point spread function. The MEA of the impedance camera can in future be further miniaturized and integrated into cell cultivation and perfusion systems such as organ on chip devices to augment or even replace light microscopic monitoring of cell monolayer confluence and integrity during the cultivation in incubation chambers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Tang
- Institute of Microtechnology (IMT), Technische Universität Brauschweig, Alte Salzdahlumer Str. 203, 38124 Brauschweig, Germany
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering (PVZ), Technische Universitãt Braunschweig, Franz-Liszt-Straße 35a, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Mengxi Liu
- Institute of Microtechnology (IMT), Technische Universität Brauschweig, Alte Salzdahlumer Str. 203, 38124 Brauschweig, Germany
| | - Andreas Dietzel
- Institute of Microtechnology (IMT), Technische Universität Brauschweig, Alte Salzdahlumer Str. 203, 38124 Brauschweig, Germany
- Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering (PVZ), Technische Universitãt Braunschweig, Franz-Liszt-Straße 35a, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
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15
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Guarino V, Zizzari A, Bianco M, Gigli G, Moroni L, Arima V. Advancements in modelling human blood brain-barrier on a chip. Biofabrication 2023; 15. [PMID: 36689766 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/acb571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The human Blood Brain Barrier (hBBB) is a complex cellular architecture separating the blood from the brain parenchyma. Its integrity and perfect functionality are essential for preventing neurotoxic plasma components and pathogens enter the brain. Although vital for preserving the correct brain activity, the low permeability of hBBB represents a huge impediment to treat mental and neurological disorders or to address brain tumors. Indeed, the vast majority of potential drug treatments are unable to reach the brain crossing the hBBB. On the other hand, hBBB integrity can be damaged or its permeability increase as a result of infections or in presence of neurodegenerative diseases. Currentin vitrosystems andin vivoanimal models used to study the molecular/drug transport mechanism through the hBBB have several intrinsic limitations that are difficult to overcome. In this scenario, Organ-on-Chip (OoC) models based on microfluidic technologies are considered promising innovative platforms that combine the handiness of anin vitromodel with the complexity of a living organ, while reducing time and costs. In this review, we focus on recent advances in OoCs for developing hBBB models, with the aim of providing the reader with a critical overview of the main guidelines to design and manufacture a hBBB-on-chip, whose compartments need to mimic the 'blood side' and 'brain side' of the barrier, to choose the cells types that are both representative and convenient, and to adequately evaluate the barrier integrity, stability, and functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vita Guarino
- Department of Mathematics and Physics 'E. De Giorgi', Università del Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy.,CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | | | - Monica Bianco
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Gigli
- Department of Mathematics and Physics 'E. De Giorgi', Università del Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy.,CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moroni
- CNR NANOTEC-Institute of Nanotechnology, 73100 Lecce, Italy.,Department of complex tissue regeneration, Maastricht University, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, 6229ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
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16
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Experimental Models of In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier for CNS Drug Delivery: An Evolutionary Perspective. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032710. [PMID: 36769032 PMCID: PMC9916529 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) disorders represent one of the leading causes of global health burden. Nonetheless, new therapies approved against these disorders are among the lowest compared to their counterparts. The absence of reliable and efficient in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) models resembling in vivo barrier properties stands out as a significant roadblock in developing successful therapy for CNS disorders. Therefore, advancement in the creation of robust and sensitive in vitro BBB models for drug screening might allow us to expedite neurological drug development. This review discusses the major in vitro BBB models developed as of now for exploring the barrier properties of the cerebral vasculature. Our main focus is describing existing in vitro models, including the 2D transwell models covering both single-layer and co-culture models, 3D organoid models, and microfluidic models with their construction, permeability measurement, applications, and limitations. Although microfluidic models are better at recapitulating the in vivo properties of BBB than other models, significant gaps still exist for their use in predicting the performance of neurotherapeutics. However, this comprehensive account of in vitro BBB models can be useful for researchers to create improved models in the future.
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17
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Blood brain barrier-on-a-chip to model neurological diseases. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2023.104174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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18
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Human mini-blood-brain barrier models for biomedical neuroscience research: a review. Biomater Res 2022; 26:82. [PMID: 36527159 PMCID: PMC9756735 DOI: 10.1186/s40824-022-00332-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The human blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a unique multicellular structure that is in critical demand for fundamental neuroscience studies and therapeutic evaluation. Despite substantial achievements in creating in vitro human BBB platforms, challenges in generating specifics of physiopathological relevance are viewed as impediments to the establishment of in vitro models. In this review, we provide insight into the development and deployment of in vitro BBB models that allow investigation of the physiology and pathology of neurological therapeutic avenues. First, we highlight the critical components, including cell sources, biomaterial glue collections, and engineering techniques to reconstruct a miniaturized human BBB. Second, we describe recent breakthroughs in human mini-BBBs for investigating biological mechanisms in neurology. Finally, we discuss the application of human mini-BBBs to medical approaches. This review provides strategies for understanding neurological diseases, a validation model for drug discovery, and a potential approach for generating personalized medicine.
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19
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Cutroneo M, Hnatowicz V, Mackova A, Malinsky P, Miksova R, Ceccio G, Maly J, Smejkal J, Štofik M, Havranek V. Ion Lithography of Single Ions Irradiation for Spatially Regular Arrays of Pores in Membranes of Polyethylene Terephthalate. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:3927. [PMID: 36432215 PMCID: PMC9697708 DOI: 10.3390/nano12223927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Routinely, in membrane technology, the decay from radioactive particles or the bombardment of ions with MeV energy per nucleon have been employed for the production of narrow and long pores in membranes. Presently, the ion lithography is proposed to make the fabrication cost more affordable. It is prospective for the use of medium capacity accelerators making more feasible the fabrication of customized membranes. Thin polyethylene terephthalate foils have been patterned using 12 MeV O5+ ions and then processed to obtain good aspect ratio ion track pores in membranes. Pores of micrometric diameter with the following profiles were fabricated in the membranes: truncated cone, double conical, ideal cone, and cylindrical. Monitoring of the shape and size of pores has been attempted with a combination of Scanning Transmission Ion Microscope and a newly designed simulation program. This study is focused on the use of low-energy ions, accomplished in all laboratories, for the fabrication of membranes where the pores are not randomly traced and exhibit higher surface density and negligible overlapping than in membranes commonly manufactured. The good reproducibility and the ordered pore locations can be potentially utilized in applications such as microfluidics and organ-on-chip microsystems, where cells growing over porous substrates are used in simulation of biological barriers and transport processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anna Mackova
- Nuclear Physics Institute AS CR, Hlavni 130, 25068 Rez, Czech Republic
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of J. E. Purkyně, Pasteurova 3544/1, 40096 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Malinsky
- Nuclear Physics Institute AS CR, Hlavni 130, 25068 Rez, Czech Republic
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of J. E. Purkyně, Pasteurova 3544/1, 40096 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Romana Miksova
- Nuclear Physics Institute AS CR, Hlavni 130, 25068 Rez, Czech Republic
| | - Giovanni Ceccio
- Nuclear Physics Institute AS CR, Hlavni 130, 25068 Rez, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Maly
- Centre of Nanomaterials and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 40096 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Smejkal
- Centre of Nanomaterials and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 40096 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Marcel Štofik
- Centre of Nanomaterials and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 40096 Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimir Havranek
- Nuclear Physics Institute AS CR, Hlavni 130, 25068 Rez, Czech Republic
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20
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Shao X, Liu Z, Mao S, Han L. Unraveling the Mechanobiology Underlying Traumatic Brain Injury with Advanced Technologies and Biomaterials. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2200760. [PMID: 35841392 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202200760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a worldwide health and socioeconomic problem, associated with prolonged and complex neurological aftermaths, including a variety of functional deficits and neurodegenerative disorders. Research on the long-term effects has highlighted that TBI shall be regarded as a chronic health condition. The initiation and exacerbation of TBI involve a series of mechanical stimulations and perturbations, accompanied by mechanotransduction events within the brain tissues. Mechanobiology thus offers a unique perspective and likely promising approach to unravel the underlying molecular and biochemical mechanisms leading to neural cells dysfunction after TBI, which may contribute to the discovery of novel targets for future clinical treatment. This article investigates TBI and the subsequent brain dysfunction from a lens of neuromechanobiology. Following an introduction, the mechanobiological insights are examined into the molecular pathology of TBI, and then an overview is given of the latest research technologies to explore neuromechanobiology, with particular focus on microfluidics and biomaterials. Challenges and prospects in the current field are also discussed. Through this article, it is hoped that extensive technical innovation in biomedical devices and materials can be encouraged to advance the field of neuromechanobiology, paving potential ways for the research and rehabilitation of neurotrauma and neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Shao
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, China.,Suzhou Research Institute, Shandong University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Zhongqian Liu
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, China
| | - Shijie Mao
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, China
| | - Lin Han
- Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266237, China
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21
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Habibey R, Rojo Arias JE, Striebel J, Busskamp V. Microfluidics for Neuronal Cell and Circuit Engineering. Chem Rev 2022; 122:14842-14880. [PMID: 36070858 PMCID: PMC9523714 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The widespread adoption of microfluidic devices among the neuroscience and neurobiology communities has enabled addressing a broad range of questions at the molecular, cellular, circuit, and system levels. Here, we review biomedical engineering approaches that harness the power of microfluidics for bottom-up generation of neuronal cell types and for the assembly and analysis of neural circuits. Microfluidics-based approaches are instrumental to generate the knowledge necessary for the derivation of diverse neuronal cell types from human pluripotent stem cells, as they enable the isolation and subsequent examination of individual neurons of interest. Moreover, microfluidic devices allow to engineer neural circuits with specific orientations and directionality by providing control over neuronal cell polarity and permitting the isolation of axons in individual microchannels. Similarly, the use of microfluidic chips enables the construction not only of 2D but also of 3D brain, retinal, and peripheral nervous system model circuits. Such brain-on-a-chip and organoid-on-a-chip technologies are promising platforms for studying these organs as they closely recapitulate some aspects of in vivo biological processes. Microfluidic 3D neuronal models, together with 2D in vitro systems, are widely used in many applications ranging from drug development and toxicology studies to neurological disease modeling and personalized medicine. Altogether, microfluidics provide researchers with powerful systems that complement and partially replace animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rouhollah Habibey
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, University of Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Straße 2, D-53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Jesús Eduardo Rojo Arias
- Wellcome─MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, United Kingdom
| | - Johannes Striebel
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, University of Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Straße 2, D-53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Volker Busskamp
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universitäts-Augenklinik Bonn, University of Bonn, Ernst-Abbe-Straße 2, D-53127 Bonn, Germany
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22
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Human Brain Organoid: A Versatile Tool for Modeling Neurodegeneration Diseases and for Drug Screening. Stem Cells Int 2022; 2022:2150680. [PMID: 36061149 PMCID: PMC9436613 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2150680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical trials serve as the fundamental prerequisite for clinical therapy of human disease, which is primarily based on biomedical studies in animal models. Undoubtedly, animal models have made a significant contribution to gaining insight into the developmental and pathophysiological understanding of human diseases. However, none of the existing animal models could efficiently simulate the development of human organs and systems due to a lack of spatial information; the discrepancy in genetic, anatomic, and physiological basis between animals and humans limits detailed investigation. Therefore, the translational efficiency of the research outcomes in clinical applications was significantly weakened, especially for some complex, chronic, and intractable diseases. For example, the clinical trials for human fragile X syndrome (FXS) solely based on animal models have failed such as mGluR5 antagonists. To mimic the development of human organs more faithfully and efficiently translate in vitro biomedical studies to clinical trials, extensive attention to organoids derived from stem cells contributes to a deeper understanding of this research. The organoids are a miniaturized version of an organ generated in vitro, partially recapitulating key features of human organ development. As such, the organoids open a novel avenue for in vitro models of human disease, advantageous over the existing animal models. The invention of organoids has brought an innovative breakthrough in regeneration medicine. The organoid-derived human tissues or organs could potentially function as invaluable platforms for biomedical studies, pathological investigation of human diseases, and drug screening. Importantly, the study of regeneration medicine and the development of therapeutic strategies for human diseases could be conducted in a dish, facilitating in vitro analysis and experimentation. Thus far, the pilot breakthrough has been made in the generation of numerous types of organoids representing different human organs. Most of these human organoids have been employed for in vitro biomedical study and drug screening. However, the efficiency and quality of the organoids in recapitulating the development of human organs have been hindered by engineering and conceptual challenges. The efficiency and quality of the organoids are essential for downstream applications. In this article, we highlight the application in the modeling of human neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as FXS, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and autistic spectrum disorders (ASD), and organoid-based drug screening. Additionally, challenges and weaknesses especially for limits of the brain organoid models in modeling late onset NDDs such as AD and PD., and future perspectives regarding human brain organoids are addressed.
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23
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Simöes Da Gama C, Morin-Brureau M. Study of BBB Dysregulation in Neuropathogenicity Using Integrative Human Model of Blood-Brain Barrier. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:863836. [PMID: 35755780 PMCID: PMC9226644 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.863836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a cellular and physical barrier with a crucial role in homeostasis of the brain extracellular environment. It controls the imports of nutrients to the brain and exports toxins and pathogens. Dysregulation of the blood-brain barrier increases permeability and contributes to pathologies, including Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, and ischemia. It remains unclear how a dysregulated BBB contributes to these different syndromes. Initial studies on the role of the BBB in neurological disorders and also techniques to permit the entry of therapeutic molecules were made in animals. This review examines progress in the use of human models of the BBB, more relevant to human neurological disorders. In recent years, the functionality and complexity of in vitro BBB models have increased. Initial efforts consisted of static transwell cultures of brain endothelial cells. Human cell models based on microfluidics or organoids derived from human-derived induced pluripotent stem cells have become more realistic and perform better. We consider the architecture of different model generations as well as the cell types used in their fabrication. Finally, we discuss optimal models to study neurodegenerative diseases, brain glioma, epilepsies, transmigration of peripheral immune cells, and brain entry of neurotrophic viruses and metastatic cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coraly Simöes Da Gama
- Inserm, Sorbonne University, UMRS 938 Saint-Antoine Research Center, Immune System and Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France
| | - Mélanie Morin-Brureau
- Inserm, Sorbonne University, UMRS 938 Saint-Antoine Research Center, Immune System and Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France
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24
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Miny L, Maisonneuve BGC, Quadrio I, Honegger T. Modeling Neurodegenerative Diseases Using In Vitro Compartmentalized Microfluidic Devices. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:919646. [PMID: 35813998 PMCID: PMC9263267 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.919646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The human brain is a complex organ composed of many different types of cells interconnected to create an organized system able to efficiently process information. Dysregulation of this delicately balanced system can lead to the development of neurological disorders, such as neurodegenerative diseases (NDD). To investigate the functionality of human brain physiology and pathophysiology, the scientific community has been generated various research models, from genetically modified animals to two- and three-dimensional cell culture for several decades. These models have, however, certain limitations that impede the precise study of pathophysiological features of neurodegeneration, thus hindering therapeutical research and drug development. Compartmentalized microfluidic devices provide in vitro minimalistic environments to accurately reproduce neural circuits allowing the characterization of the human central nervous system. Brain-on-chip (BoC) is allowing our capability to improve neurodegeneration models on the molecular and cellular mechanism aspects behind the progression of these troubles. This review aims to summarize and discuss the latest advancements of microfluidic models for the investigations of common neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Miny
- NETRI, Lyon, France
- BIORAN Team, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Lyon 1 University, Bron, France
| | | | - Isabelle Quadrio
- BIORAN Team, Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, CNRS UMR 5292, INSERM U1028, Lyon 1 University, Bron, France
- Laboratory of Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lyon University Hospital, Bron, France
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25
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Neto E, Monteiro AC, Leite Pereira C, Simões M, Conde JP, Chu V, Sarmento B, Lamghari M. Micropathological Chip Modeling the Neurovascular Unit Response to Inflammatory Bone Condition. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2102305. [PMID: 35158409 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202102305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Organ-on-a-chip in vitro platforms accurately mimic complex microenvironments offering the ability to recapitulate and dissect mechanisms of physiological and pathological settings, revealing their major importance to develop new therapeutic targets. Bone diseases, such as osteoarthritis, are extremely complex, comprising of the action of inflammatory mediators leading to unbalanced bone homeostasis and de-regulation of sensory innervation and angiogenesis. Although there are models to mimic bone vascularization or innervation, in vitro platforms merging the complexity of bone, vasculature, innervation, and inflammation are missing. Therefore, in this study a microfluidic-based neuro-vascularized bone chip (NVB chip) is proposed to 1) model the mechanistic interactions between innervation and angiogenesis in the inflammatory bone niche, and 2) explore, as a screening tool, novel strategies targeting inflammatory diseases, using a nano-based drug delivery system. It is possible to set the design of the platform and achieve the optimized conditions to address the neurovascular network under inflammation. Moreover, this system is validated by delivering anti-inflammatory drug-loaded nanoparticles to counteract the neuronal growth associated with pain perception. This reliable in vitro tool will allow understanding the bone neurovascular system, enlightening novel mechanisms behind the inflammatory bone diseases, bone destruction, and pain opening new avenues for new therapies discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estrela Neto
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 Porto 4200‐135 Portugal
- INEB – Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 Porto 4200‐135 Portugal
| | - Ana Carolina Monteiro
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 Porto 4200‐135 Portugal
- INEB – Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 Porto 4200‐135 Portugal
| | - Catarina Leite Pereira
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 Porto 4200‐135 Portugal
- INEB – Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 Porto 4200‐135 Portugal
| | - Miguel Simões
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 Porto 4200‐135 Portugal
- INEB – Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 Porto 4200‐135 Portugal
| | - João Pedro Conde
- Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores (INESC) Microsystems and Nanotechnologies Rua Alves Redol, 9 1000‐029 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Virginia Chu
- Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores (INESC) Microsystems and Nanotechnologies Rua Alves Redol, 9 1000‐029 Lisboa Portugal
| | - Bruno Sarmento
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 Porto 4200‐135 Portugal
- INEB – Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 Porto 4200‐135 Portugal
- CESPU Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada em Ciências e Tecnologias da Saúde Rua Central da Gandra, 137 Gandra 4585‐116 Portugal
| | - Meriem Lamghari
- i3S – Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 Porto 4200‐135 Portugal
- INEB – Instituto Nacional de Engenharia Biomédica Universidade do Porto Rua Alfredo Allen, 208 Porto 4200‐135 Portugal
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Perfusion in Organ-on-Chip Models and Its Applicability to the Replication of Spermatogenesis In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23105402. [PMID: 35628214 PMCID: PMC9141186 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Organ/organoid-on-a-chip (OoC) technologies aim to replicate aspects of the in vivo environment in vitro, at the scale of microns. Mimicking the spatial in vivo structure is important and can provide a deeper understanding of the cell–cell interactions and the mechanisms that lead to normal/abnormal function of a given organ. It is also important for disease models and drug/toxin testing. Incorporating active fluid flow in chip models enables many more possibilities. Active flow can provide physical cues, improve intercellular communication, and allow for the dynamic control of the environment, by enabling the efficient introduction of biological factors, drugs, or toxins. All of this is in addition to the fundamental role of flow in supplying nutrition and removing waste metabolites. This review presents an overview of the different types of fluid flow and how they are incorporated in various OoC models. The review then describes various methods and techniques of incorporating perfusion networks into OoC models, including self-assembly, bioprinting techniques, and utilizing sacrificial gels. The second part of the review focuses on the replication of spermatogenesis in vitro; the complex process whereby spermatogonial stem cells differentiate into mature sperm. A general overview is given of the various approaches that have been used. The few studies that incorporated microfluidics or vasculature are also described. Finally, a future perspective is given on elements from perfusion-based models that are currently used in models of other organs and can be applied to the field of in vitro spermatogenesis. For example, adopting tubular blood vessel models to mimic the morphology of the seminiferous tubules and incorporating vasculature in testis-on-a-chip models. Improving these models would improve our understanding of the process of spermatogenesis. It may also potentially provide novel therapeutic strategies for pre-pubertal cancer patients who need aggressive chemotherapy that can render them sterile, as well asfor a subset of non-obstructive azoospermic patients with maturation arrest, whose testes do not produce sperm but still contain some of the progenitor cells.
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Fanizza F, Campanile M, Forloni G, Giordano C, Albani D. Induced pluripotent stem cell-based organ-on-a-chip as personalized drug screening tools: A focus on neurodegenerative disorders. J Tissue Eng 2022; 13:20417314221095339. [PMID: 35570845 PMCID: PMC9092580 DOI: 10.1177/20417314221095339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Organ-on-a-Chip (OoC) technology shows great potential to revolutionize the
drugs development pipeline by mimicking the physiological environment and
functions of human organs. The translational value of OoC is further enhanced
when combined with patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to
develop more realistic disease models, paving the way for the development of a
new generation of patient-on-a-chip devices. iPSCs differentiation capacity
leads to invaluable improvements in personalized medicine. Moreover, the
connection of single-OoC into multi-OoC or body-on-a-chip allows to investigate
drug pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetics through the study of multi-organs
cross-talks. The need of a breakthrough thanks to this technology is
particularly relevant within the field of neurodegenerative diseases, where the
number of patients is increasing and the successful rate in drug discovery is
worryingly low. In this review we discuss current iPSC-based OoC as drug
screening models and their implication in development of new therapies for
neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Fanizza
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marzia Campanile
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Forloni
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Carmen Giordano
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,” Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Diego Albani
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
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Advances in Hydrogel-Based Microfluidic Blood–Brain-Barrier Models in Oncology Research. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14050993. [PMID: 35631579 PMCID: PMC9144371 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14050993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The intrinsic architecture and complexity of the brain restricts the capacity of therapeutic molecules to reach their potential targets, thereby limiting therapeutic possibilities concerning neurological ailments and brain malignancy. As conventional models fail to recapitulate the complexity of the brain, progress in the field of microfluidics has facilitated the development of advanced in vitro platforms that could imitate the in vivo microenvironments and pathological features of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). It is highly desirous that developed in vitro BBB-on-chip models serve as a platform to investigate cancer metastasis of the brain along with the possibility of efficiently screening chemotherapeutic agents against brain malignancies. In order to improve the proficiency of BBB-on-chip models, hydrogels have been widely explored due to their unique physical and chemical properties, which mimic the three-dimensional (3D) micro architecture of tissues. Hydrogel-based BBB-on-chip models serves as a stage which is conducive for cell growth and allows the exchange of gases and nutrients and the removal of metabolic wastes between cells and the cell/extra cellular matrix (ECM) interface. Here, we present recent advancements in BBB-on-chip models targeting brain malignancies and examine the utility of hydrogel-based BBB models that could further strengthen the future application of microfluidic devices in oncology research.
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Martinelli I, Tayebati SK, Tomassoni D, Nittari G, Roy P, Amenta F. Brain and Retinal Organoids for Disease Modeling: The Importance of In Vitro Blood–Brain and Retinal Barriers Studies. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071120. [PMID: 35406683 PMCID: PMC8997725 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain and retinal organoids are functional and dynamic in vitro three-dimensional (3D) structures derived from pluripotent stem cells that spontaneously organize themselves to their in vivo counterparts. Here, we review the main literature data of how these organoids have been developed through different protocols and how they have been technically analyzed. Moreover, this paper reviews recent advances in using organoids to model neurological and retinal diseases, considering their potential for translational applications but also pointing out their limitations. Since the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and blood–retinal barrier (BRB) are understood to play a fundamental role respectively in brain and eye functions, both in health and in disease, we provide an overview of the progress in the development techniques of in vitro models as reliable and predictive screening tools for BBB and BRB-penetrating compounds. Furthermore, we propose potential future directions for brain and retinal organoids, in which dedicated biobanks will represent a novel tool for neuroscience and ophthalmology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilenia Martinelli
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Seyed Khosrow Tayebati
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
| | - Daniele Tomassoni
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (D.T.); (P.R.)
| | - Giulio Nittari
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
| | - Proshanta Roy
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (D.T.); (P.R.)
| | - Francesco Amenta
- School of Medicinal and Health Products Sciences, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (S.K.T.); (G.N.); (F.A.)
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Shah B, Dong X. Current Status of In vitro Models of the Blood-Brain Barrier. Curr Drug Deliv 2022; 19:1034-1046. [PMID: 35240972 DOI: 10.2174/1567201819666220303102614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Disorders of the brain are the most debilitating situation affected globally with increased mortality rates every year, while brain physiology and cumbersome drug development processes exacerbate this. Although blood-brain barrier (BBB) and its components are important for brain protection, their complexity creates major obstacles for brain drug delivery and the BBB is the primary cause of treatment failure leading to disease progression. Therefore, developing an ideal platform which can predict the behavior of a drug delivery system in the brain at the early development phase is extremely crucial. In this direction, since the last two decades, numerous in vitro BBB models have been developed and investigated by researchers to understand the barrier properties and how closely the in vitro models mimic with in vivo BBB. In-vitro BBB models are mainly culture of endothelial cells or their coculture with other perivascular cells either in two or three-dimensional platforms. In this article, we have briefly summarized the fundamentals of BBB and outlined different types of in vitro BBB models with their pros and cons. Based on the available reports, no model seems to be robust that can truly mimic the entire properties of the in vivo BBB microvasculature. However, human stem cells, coculture and three-dimensional models were found to mimic the complexity of the barrier integrity not completely but more precisely than other in vitro models. More studies aiming towards combining them together would be needed to develop an ideal in vitro model that can overcome the existing limitations and unravel the mysterious BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brijesh Shah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Xiaowei Dong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of North Texas System College of Pharmacy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
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Dietary Plant Polyphenols as the Potential Drugs in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Current Evidence, Advances, and Opportunities. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:5288698. [PMID: 35237381 PMCID: PMC8885204 DOI: 10.1155/2022/5288698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Huntington’s disease (HD), are characterized by the progressive degeneration of neurons. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases have been studied intensively, the mechanism is still in its infancy. In general, most neurodegenerative diseases share common molecular mechanisms, and multiple risks interact and promote the pathologic process of neurogenerative diseases. At present, most of the approved drugs only alleviate the clinical symptoms but fail to cure neurodegenerative diseases. Numerous studies indicate that dietary plant polyphenols are safe and exhibit potent neuroprotective effects in various neurodegenerative diseases. However, low bioavailability is the biggest obstacle for polyphenol that largely limits its adoption from evidence into clinical practice. In this review, we summarized the widely recognized mechanisms associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as misfolded proteins, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, and neuroinflammatory responses. In addition, we summarized the research advances about the neuroprotective effect of the most widely reported dietary plant polyphenols. Moreover, we discussed the current clinical study and application of polyphenols and the factors that result in low bioavailability, such as poor stability and low permeability across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In the future, the improvement of absorption and stability, modification of structure and formulation, and the combination therapy will provide more opportunities from the laboratory into the clinic for polyphenols. Lastly, we hope that the present review will encourage further researches on natural dietary polyphenols in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Fallon ME, Mathews R, Hinds MT. In Vitro Flow Chamber Design for the Study of Endothelial Cell (Patho)Physiology. J Biomech Eng 2022; 144:020801. [PMID: 34254640 PMCID: PMC8628846 DOI: 10.1115/1.4051765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
In the native vasculature, flowing blood produces a frictional force on vessel walls that affects endothelial cell function and phenotype. In the arterial system, the vasculature's local geometry directly influences variations in flow profiles and shear stress magnitudes. Straight arterial sections with pulsatile shear stress have been shown to promote an athero-protective endothelial phenotype. Conversely, areas with more complex geometry, such as arterial bifurcations and branch points with disturbed flow patterns and lower, oscillatory shear stress, typically lead to endothelial dysfunction and the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Many studies have investigated the regulation of endothelial responses to various shear stress environments. Importantly, the accurate in vitro simulation of in vivo hemodynamics is critical to the deeper understanding of mechanotransduction through the proper design and use of flow chamber devices. In this review, we describe several flow chamber apparatuses and their fluid mechanics design parameters, including parallel-plate flow chambers, cone-and-plate devices, and microfluidic devices. In addition, chamber-specific design criteria and relevant equations are defined in detail for the accurate simulation of shear stress environments to study endothelial cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan E. Fallon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, 3303 S Bond Ave CH13B, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Rick Mathews
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, 3303 S Bond Ave CH13B, Portland, OR 97239
| | - Monica T. Hinds
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University, 3303 S Bond Ave CH13B, Portland, OR 97239
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From organ-on-chip to body-on-chip: The next generation of microfluidics platforms for in vitro drug efficacy and toxicity testing. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2022; 187:41-91. [PMID: 35094781 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The high failure rate in drug development is often attributed to the lack of accurate pre-clinical models that may lead to false discoveries and inconclusive data when the compounds are eventually tested in clinical phase. With the evolution of cell culture technologies, drug testing systems have widely improved, and today, with the emergence of microfluidics devices, drug screening seems to be at the dawn of an important revolution. An organ-on-chip allows the culture of living cells in continuously perfused microchambers to reproduce physiological functions of a particular tissue or organ. The advantages of such systems are not only their ability to recapitulate the complex biochemical interactions between different human cell types but also to incorporate physical forces, including shear stress and mechanical stretching or compression. To improve this model, and to reproduce the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination process of an exogenous compound, organ-on-chips can even be linked fluidically to mimic physiological interactions between different organs, leading to the development of body-on-chips. Although these technologies are still at a young age and need to address a certain number of limitations, they already demonstrated their relevance to study the effect of drugs or toxins on organs, displaying a similar response to what is observed in vivo. The purpose of this review is to present the evolution from organ-on-chip to body-on-chip, examine their current use for drug testing and discuss their advantages and future challenges they will face in order to become an essential pillar of pharmaceutical research.
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Organ-on-a-Chip for Studying Gut-Brain Interaction Mediated by Extracellular Vesicles in the Gut Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413513. [PMID: 34948310 PMCID: PMC8707342 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a group of membrane vesicles that play important roles in cell-to-cell and interspecies/interkingdom communications by modulating the pathophysiological conditions of recipient cells. Recent evidence has implied their potential roles in the gut–brain axis (GBA), which is a complex bidirectional communication system between the gut environment and brain pathophysiology. Despite the evidence, the roles of EVs in the gut microenvironment in the GBA are less highlighted. Moreover, there are critical challenges in the current GBA models and analyzing techniques for EVs, which may hinder the research. Currently, advances in organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technologies have provided a promising solution. Here, we review the potential effects of EVs occurring in the gut environment on brain physiology and behavior and discuss how to apply OOCs to research the GBA mediated by EVs in the gut microenvironment.
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35
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Chen X, Liu C, Muok L, Zeng C, Li Y. Dynamic 3D On-Chip BBB Model Design, Development, and Applications in Neurological Diseases. Cells 2021; 10:3183. [PMID: 34831406 PMCID: PMC8622822 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a vital structure for maintaining homeostasis between the blood and the brain in the central nervous system (CNS). Biomolecule exchange, ion balance, nutrition delivery, and toxic molecule prevention rely on the normal function of the BBB. The dysfunction and the dysregulation of the BBB leads to the progression of neurological disorders and neurodegeneration. Therefore, in vitro BBB models can facilitate the investigation for proper therapies. As the demand increases, it is urgent to develop a more efficient and more physiologically relevant BBB model. In this review, the development of the microfluidics platform for the applications in neuroscience is summarized. This article focuses on the characterizations of in vitro BBB models derived from human stem cells and discusses the development of various types of in vitro models. The microfluidics-based system and BBB-on-chip models should provide a better platform for high-throughput drug-screening and targeted delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingchi Chen
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA; (X.C.); (C.L.); (L.M.)
- The High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA; (X.C.); (C.L.); (L.M.)
| | - Laureana Muok
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA; (X.C.); (C.L.); (L.M.)
| | - Changchun Zeng
- The High-Performance Materials Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA
- Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA;
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA; (X.C.); (C.L.); (L.M.)
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Lynch MJ, Gobbo OL. Advances in Non-Animal Testing Approaches towards Accelerated Clinical Translation of Novel Nanotheranostic Therapeutics for Central Nervous System Disorders. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:2632. [PMID: 34685073 PMCID: PMC8538557 DOI: 10.3390/nano11102632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Nanotheranostics constitute a novel drug delivery system approach to improving systemic, brain-targeted delivery of diagnostic imaging agents and pharmacological moieties in one rational carrier platform. While there have been notable successes in this field, currently, the clinical translation of such delivery systems for the treatment of neurological disorders has been limited by the inadequacy of correlating in vitro and in vivo data on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeation and biocompatibility of nanomaterials. This review aims to identify the most contemporary non-invasive approaches for BBB crossing using nanotheranostics as a novel drug delivery strategy and current non-animal-based models for assessing the safety and efficiency of such formulations. This review will also address current and future directions of select in vitro models for reducing the cumbersome and laborious mandate for testing exclusively in animals. It is hoped these non-animal-based modelling approaches will facilitate researchers in optimising promising multifunctional nanocarriers with a view to accelerating clinical testing and authorisation applications. By rational design and appropriate selection of characterised and validated models, ranging from monolayer cell cultures to organ-on-chip microfluidics, promising nanotheranostic particles with modular and rational design can be screened in high-throughput models with robust predictive power. Thus, this article serves to highlight abbreviated research and development possibilities with clinical translational relevance for developing novel nanomaterial-based neuropharmaceuticals for therapy in CNS disorders. By generating predictive data for prospective nanomedicines using validated in vitro models for supporting clinical applications in lieu of requiring extensive use of in vivo animal models that have notable limitations, it is hoped that there will be a burgeoning in the nanotherapy of CNS disorders by virtue of accelerated lead identification through screening, optimisation through rational design for brain-targeted delivery across the BBB and clinical testing and approval using fewer animals. Additionally, by using models with tissue of human origin, reproducible therapeutically relevant nanomedicine delivery and individualised therapy can be realised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J. Lynch
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panoz Building, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Oliviero L. Gobbo
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panoz Building, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
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Nair AL, Mesch L, Schulz I, Becker H, Raible J, Kiessling H, Werner S, Rothbauer U, Schmees C, Busche M, Trennheuser S, Fricker G, Stelzle M. Parallelizable Microfluidic Platform to Model and Assess In Vitro Cellular Barriers: Technology and Application to Study the Interaction of 3D Tumor Spheroids with Cellular Barriers. BIOSENSORS 2021; 11:314. [PMID: 34562904 PMCID: PMC8471981 DOI: 10.3390/bios11090314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Endothelial and epithelial cellular barriers play a vital role in the selective transport of solutes and other molecules. The properties and function of these barriers are often affected in case of inflammation and disease. Modelling cellular barriers in vitro can greatly facilitate studies of inflammation, disease mechanisms and progression, and in addition, can be exploited for drug screening and discovery. Here, we report on a parallelizable microfluidic platform in a multiwell plate format with ten independent cell culture chambers to support the modelling of cellular barriers co-cultured with 3D tumor spheroids. The microfluidic platform was fabricated by microinjection molding. Electrodes integrated into the chip in combination with a FT-impedance measurement system enabled transepithelial/transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements to rapidly assess real-time barrier tightness. The fluidic layout supports the tubeless and parallelized operation of up to ten distinct cultures under continuous unidirectional flow/perfusion. The capabilities of the system were demonstrated with a co-culture of 3D tumor spheroids and cellular barriers showing the growth and interaction of HT29 spheroids with a cellular barrier of MDCK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arya Lekshmi Nair
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tübingen, Markwiesenstraße 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany; (A.L.N.); (J.R.); (H.K.); (S.W.); (U.R.); (C.S.); (M.B.)
- Currently with Mimetas, De Limes 7, 2342 DH Oegstgeest, The Netherlands
| | - Lena Mesch
- Institut für Neuroanatomie und Entwicklungsbiologie, University of Tübingen, Österbergstraße 3, 72074 Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Ingo Schulz
- Microfluidic ChipShop GmbH, Stockholmer Str. 20, D-07747 Jena, Germany; (I.S.); (H.B.)
| | - Holger Becker
- Microfluidic ChipShop GmbH, Stockholmer Str. 20, D-07747 Jena, Germany; (I.S.); (H.B.)
| | - Julia Raible
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tübingen, Markwiesenstraße 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany; (A.L.N.); (J.R.); (H.K.); (S.W.); (U.R.); (C.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Heiko Kiessling
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tübingen, Markwiesenstraße 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany; (A.L.N.); (J.R.); (H.K.); (S.W.); (U.R.); (C.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Simon Werner
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tübingen, Markwiesenstraße 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany; (A.L.N.); (J.R.); (H.K.); (S.W.); (U.R.); (C.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Ulrich Rothbauer
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tübingen, Markwiesenstraße 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany; (A.L.N.); (J.R.); (H.K.); (S.W.); (U.R.); (C.S.); (M.B.)
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 364, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.T.); (G.F.)
| | - Christian Schmees
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tübingen, Markwiesenstraße 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany; (A.L.N.); (J.R.); (H.K.); (S.W.); (U.R.); (C.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Marius Busche
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tübingen, Markwiesenstraße 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany; (A.L.N.); (J.R.); (H.K.); (S.W.); (U.R.); (C.S.); (M.B.)
| | - Sebastian Trennheuser
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gert Fricker
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Martin Stelzle
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Tübingen, Markwiesenstraße 55, 72770 Reutlingen, Germany; (A.L.N.); (J.R.); (H.K.); (S.W.); (U.R.); (C.S.); (M.B.)
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Kim MH, Kim D, Sung JH. A Gut-Brain Axis-on-a-Chip for studying transport across epithelial and endothelial barriers. J IND ENG CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2021.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Emerging Approaches to Understanding Microvascular Endothelial Heterogeneity: A Roadmap for Developing Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutics. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22157770. [PMID: 34360536 PMCID: PMC8346165 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The endothelium is the inner layer of all blood vessels and it regulates hemostasis. It also plays an active role in the regulation of the systemic inflammatory response. Systemic inflammatory disease often results in alterations in vascular endothelium barrier function, increased permeability, excessive leukocyte trafficking, and reactive oxygen species production, leading to organ damage. Therapeutics targeting endothelium inflammation are urgently needed, but strong concerns regarding the level of phenotypic heterogeneity of microvascular endothelial cells between different organs and species have been expressed. Microvascular endothelial cell heterogeneity in different organs and organ-specific variations in endothelial cell structure and function are regulated by intrinsic signals that are differentially expressed across organs and species; a result of this is that neutrophil recruitment to discrete organs may be regulated differently. In this review, we will discuss the morphological and functional variations in differently originated microvascular endothelia and discuss how these variances affect systemic function in response to inflammation. We will review emerging in vivo and in vitro models and techniques, including microphysiological devices, proteomics, and RNA sequencing used to study the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of endothelia from different organs. A better understanding of microvascular endothelial cell heterogeneity will provide a roadmap for developing novel therapeutics to target the endothelium.
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Wu YC, Sonninen TM, Peltonen S, Koistinaho J, Lehtonen Š. Blood-Brain Barrier and Neurodegenerative Diseases-Modeling with iPSC-Derived Brain Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:7710. [PMID: 34299328 PMCID: PMC8307585 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22147710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) regulates the delivery of oxygen and important nutrients to the brain through active and passive transport and prevents neurotoxins from entering the brain. It also has a clearance function and removes carbon dioxide and toxic metabolites from the central nervous system (CNS). Several drugs are unable to cross the BBB and enter the CNS, adding complexity to drug screens targeting brain disorders. A well-functioning BBB is essential for maintaining healthy brain tissue, and a malfunction of the BBB, linked to its permeability, results in toxins and immune cells entering the CNS. This impairment is associated with a variety of neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Here, we summarize current knowledge about the BBB in neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, we focus on recent progress of using human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived models to study the BBB. We review the potential of novel stem cell-based platforms in modeling the BBB and address advances and key challenges of using stem cell technology in modeling the human BBB. Finally, we highlight future directions in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Chieh Wu
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (Y.-C.W.); (T.-M.S.); (S.P.); (J.K.)
| | - Tuuli-Maria Sonninen
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (Y.-C.W.); (T.-M.S.); (S.P.); (J.K.)
| | - Sanni Peltonen
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (Y.-C.W.); (T.-M.S.); (S.P.); (J.K.)
| | - Jari Koistinaho
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (Y.-C.W.); (T.-M.S.); (S.P.); (J.K.)
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Šárka Lehtonen
- Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland; (Y.-C.W.); (T.-M.S.); (S.P.); (J.K.)
- A.I.Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
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41
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Augustine R, Aqel AH, Kalva SN, Joshy KS, Nayeem A, Hasan A. Bioengineered microfluidic blood-brain barrier models in oncology research. Transl Oncol 2021; 14:101087. [PMID: 33865030 PMCID: PMC8066424 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2021.101087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the major reason for most brain tumors with up to a 50% chance of occurrence in patients with other types of malignancies. Brain metastasis occurs if cancer cells succeed to cross the 'blood-brain barrier' (BBB). Moreover, changes in the structure and function of BBB can lead to the onset and progression of diseases including neurological disorders and brain-metastases. Generating BBB models with structural and functional features of intact BBB is highly important to better understand the molecular mechanism of such ailments and finding novel therapeutic agents targeting them. Hence, researchers are developing novel in vitro BBB platforms that can recapitulate the structural and functional characteristics of BBB. Brain endothelial cells-based in vitro BBB models have thus been developed to investigate the mechanism of brain metastasis through BBB and facilitate the testing of brain targeted anticancer drugs. Bioengineered constructs integrated with microfluidic platforms are vital tools for recapitulating the features of BBB in vitro closely as possible. In this review, we outline the fundamentals of BBB biology, recent developments in the microfluidic BBB platforms, and provide a concise discussion of diverse types of bioengineered BBB models with an emphasis on the application of them in brain metastasis and cancer research in general. We also provide insights into the challenges and prospects of the current bioengineered microfluidic platforms in cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Augustine
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, 2713 Doha, Qatar; Biomedical Research Center (BRC), Qatar University, PO Box 2713 Doha, Qatar.
| | - Ahmad H Aqel
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, 2713 Doha, Qatar; Biomedical Research Center (BRC), Qatar University, PO Box 2713 Doha, Qatar
| | - Sumama Nuthana Kalva
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, 2713 Doha, Qatar; Biomedical Research Center (BRC), Qatar University, PO Box 2713 Doha, Qatar
| | - K S Joshy
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, 2713 Doha, Qatar; Biomedical Research Center (BRC), Qatar University, PO Box 2713 Doha, Qatar
| | - Ajisha Nayeem
- Department of Biotechnology, St. Mary's College, Thrissur 680020, Kerala, India
| | - Anwarul Hasan
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, 2713 Doha, Qatar; Biomedical Research Center (BRC), Qatar University, PO Box 2713 Doha, Qatar.
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Staicu CE, Jipa F, Axente E, Radu M, Radu BM, Sima F. Lab-on-a-Chip Platforms as Tools for Drug Screening in Neuropathologies Associated with Blood-Brain Barrier Alterations. Biomolecules 2021; 11:916. [PMID: 34205550 PMCID: PMC8235582 DOI: 10.3390/biom11060916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) and organ-on-a-chip (OOC) devices are highly versatile platforms that enable miniaturization and advanced controlled laboratory functions (i.e., microfluidics, advanced optical or electrical recordings, high-throughput screening). The manufacturing advancements of LOCs/OOCs for biomedical applications and their current limitations are briefly discussed. Multiple studies have exploited the advantages of mimicking organs or tissues on a chip. Among these, we focused our attention on the brain-on-a-chip, blood-brain barrier (BBB)-on-a-chip, and neurovascular unit (NVU)-on-a-chip applications. Mainly, we review the latest developments of brain-on-a-chip, BBB-on-a-chip, and NVU-on-a-chip devices and their use as testing platforms for high-throughput pharmacological screening. In particular, we analyze the most important contributions of these studies in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and their relevance in translational personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Elena Staicu
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania;
- Center for Advanced Laser Technologies, National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Măgurele, Romania; (F.J.); (E.A.); (F.S.)
| | - Florin Jipa
- Center for Advanced Laser Technologies, National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Măgurele, Romania; (F.J.); (E.A.); (F.S.)
| | - Emanuel Axente
- Center for Advanced Laser Technologies, National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Măgurele, Romania; (F.J.); (E.A.); (F.S.)
| | - Mihai Radu
- Department of Life and Environmental Physics, ‘Horia Hulubei’ National Institute for Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 077125 Măgurele, Romania;
| | - Beatrice Mihaela Radu
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Felix Sima
- Center for Advanced Laser Technologies, National Institute for Laser, Plasma and Radiation Physics, 077125 Măgurele, Romania; (F.J.); (E.A.); (F.S.)
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43
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Blood–Brain Barrier Dynamic Device with Uniform Shear Stress Distribution for Microscopy and Permeability Measurements. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11125584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neurology has always been one of the therapeutic areas with higher attrition rates. One of the main difficulties is the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) that restricts access to the brain for major drugs. This low success rate has led to an increasing demand for in vitro tools. The shear stress, which positively affects endothelial cell differentiation by mimicking blood flow, is required for a more physiological in vitro BBB model. We created an innovative device specifically designed for cell culture under shear stress to investigate drug permeability. Our dynamic device encompasses two compartments communicating together via a semi-permeable membrane, on which human cerebral microvascular endothelial (hCMEC/D3) cells were seeded. The fluidic controlled environment ensures a laminar and homogenous flow to culture cells for at least seven days. Cell differentiation was characterized by immunodetection of inter-endothelial junctions directly in the device by confocal microscopy. Finally, we performed permeability assay with lucifer yellow in both static and dynamic conditions in parallel. Our dynamic device is suited to the evaluation of barrier function and the study of drug transport across the BBB, but it could also be used with other human cell types to reproduce intestinal or kidney barriers.
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Zhang Q, Bosch-Rué È, Pérez RA, Truskey GA. Biofabrication of tissue engineering vascular systems. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:021507. [PMID: 33981941 PMCID: PMC8106537 DOI: 10.1063/5.0039628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among persons aged 65 and older in the United States and many other developed countries. Tissue engineered vascular systems (TEVS) can serve as grafts for CVD treatment and be used as in vitro model systems to examine the role of various genetic factors during the CVD progressions. Current focus in the field is to fabricate TEVS that more closely resembles the mechanical properties and extracellular matrix environment of native vessels, which depends heavily on the advance in biofabrication techniques and discovery of novel biomaterials. In this review, we outline the mechanical and biological design requirements of TEVS and explore the history and recent advances in biofabrication methods and biomaterials for tissue engineered blood vessels and microvascular systems with special focus on in vitro applications. In vitro applications of TEVS for disease modeling are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
| | - Èlia Bosch-Rué
- Bioengineering Institute of Technology (BIT), Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Sant Cugat del Vallès 08195, Spain
| | - Román A. Pérez
- Bioengineering Institute of Technology (BIT), Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC), Sant Cugat del Vallès 08195, Spain
| | - George A. Truskey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
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45
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Weber CM, Clyne AM. Sex differences in the blood-brain barrier and neurodegenerative diseases. APL Bioeng 2021; 5:011509. [PMID: 33758788 PMCID: PMC7968933 DOI: 10.1063/5.0035610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of people diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases is on the rise. Many of these diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and motor neuron disease, demonstrate clear sexual dimorphisms. While sex as a biological variable must now be included in animal studies, sex is rarely included in in vitro models of human neurodegenerative disease. In this Review, we describe these sex-related differences in neurodegenerative diseases and the blood-brain barrier (BBB), whose dysfunction is linked to neurodegenerative disease development and progression. We explain potential mechanisms by which sex and sex hormones affect BBB integrity. Finally, we summarize current in vitro BBB bioengineered models and highlight their potential to study sex differences in BBB integrity and neurodegenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callie M Weber
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Alisa Morss Clyne
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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Are In Vitro Human Blood-Brain-Tumor-Barriers Suitable Replacements for In Vivo Models of Brain Permeability for Novel Therapeutics? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13050955. [PMID: 33668807 PMCID: PMC7956470 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13050955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Brain cancers are a devastating disease with no cure. The aim of the study was to determine whether in vitro models can replace in vivo models to assess the brain permeability of novel drugs for brain cancer. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, our systematic review reveals that microfluidic-based in vitro models comprising stem cell-derived endothelial cells, and primary astrocytes, pericytes and neurons can, in part, replicate the physiological ability of in vivo models to mimic patient permeability data. This information will guide the development and use of in vitro models for novel therapeutics of unknown permeability for brain cancer. Abstract Background: High grade gliomas (HGG) are incapacitating and prematurely fatal diseases. To overcome the poor prognosis, novel therapies must overcome the selective and restricted permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). This study critically evaluated whether in vitro human normal BBB and tumor BBB (BBTB) are suitable alternatives to “gold standard” in vivo models to determine brain permeability. Methods: A systematic review utilizing the PRISMA guidelines used English and full-text articles from the past 5 years in the PubMed, Embase, Medline and Scopus databases. Experimental studies employing human cell lines were included. Results: Of 1335 articles, the search identified 24 articles for evaluation after duplicates were removed. Eight in vitro and five in vivo models were identified with the advantages and disadvantages compared within and between models, and against patient clinical data where available. The greatest in vitro barrier integrity and stability, comparable to in vivo and clinical permeability data, were achieved in the presence of all cell types of the neurovascular unit: endothelial cells, astrocytes/glioma cells, pericytes and neurons. Conclusions: In vitro co-culture BBB models utilizing stem cell-derived or primary cells are a suitable proxy for brain permeability studies in order to reduce animal use in medical research.
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Fabozzi A, Della Sala F, di Gennaro M, Solimando N, Pagliuca M, Borzacchiello A. Polymer based nanoparticles for biomedical applications by microfluidic techniques: from design to biological evaluation. Polym Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1py01077h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The development of microfluidic technologies represents a new strategy to produce and test drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Fabozzi
- ALTERGON ITALIA S.r.l., Zona Industriale ASI, 83040 Morra De Sanctis, AV, Italy
| | - Francesca Della Sala
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, IPCB-CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Mario di Gennaro
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, IPCB-CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicola Solimando
- ALTERGON ITALIA S.r.l., Zona Industriale ASI, 83040 Morra De Sanctis, AV, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pagliuca
- ALTERGON ITALIA S.r.l., Zona Industriale ASI, 83040 Morra De Sanctis, AV, Italy
| | - Assunta Borzacchiello
- Institute for Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council, IPCB-CNR, Naples, Italy
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48
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Xu J, Tao J, Wang J. Design and Application in Delivery System of Intranasal Antidepressants. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:626882. [PMID: 33409272 PMCID: PMC7779764 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.626882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the major reasons why depressed patients fail their treatment course is the existence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which prevents drugs from being delivered to the central nervous system (CNS). In recent years, nasal drug delivery has achieved better systemic bioavailability and activity in low doses in antidepressant treatment. In this review, we focused on the latest strategies for delivery carriers (or formation) of intranasal antidepressants. We began this review with an overview of the nasal drug delivery systems, including nasal drug delivery route, absorption mechanism, advantages, and limitations in the nasal drug delivery route. Next, we introduced the development of nasal drug delivery devices, such as powder devices, liquid-based devices, and so on. Finally, intranasal delivery carriers of antidepressants in clinical studies, including nanogels, nanostructured lipid, liposomes nanoparticles, nanoemulsions/microemulsion, were summarized. Moreover, challenges and future perspectives on recent progress of intranasal delivery carriers in antidepressant treatments were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingying Xu
- School of Marxism, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China
- Mental Health Service Center, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Jiangang Tao
- School of Marxism, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China
- Mental Health Service Center, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China
| | - Jidong Wang
- Applied Chemistry Key Laboratory of Hebei Province, Hebei Key Laboratory of Heavy Metal Deep-Remediation in Water and Resource Reuse, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao, China
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49
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Nikolakopoulou P, Rauti R, Voulgaris D, Shlomy I, Maoz BM, Herland A. Recent progress in translational engineered in vitro models of the central nervous system. Brain 2020; 143:3181-3213. [PMID: 33020798 PMCID: PMC7719033 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The complexity of the human brain poses a substantial challenge for the development of models of the CNS. Current animal models lack many essential human characteristics (in addition to raising operational challenges and ethical concerns), and conventional in vitro models, in turn, are limited in their capacity to provide information regarding many functional and systemic responses. Indeed, these challenges may underlie the notoriously low success rates of CNS drug development efforts. During the past 5 years, there has been a leap in the complexity and functionality of in vitro systems of the CNS, which have the potential to overcome many of the limitations of traditional model systems. The availability of human-derived induced pluripotent stem cell technology has further increased the translational potential of these systems. Yet, the adoption of state-of-the-art in vitro platforms within the CNS research community is limited. This may be attributable to the high costs or the immaturity of the systems. Nevertheless, the costs of fabrication have decreased, and there are tremendous ongoing efforts to improve the quality of cell differentiation. Herein, we aim to raise awareness of the capabilities and accessibility of advanced in vitro CNS technologies. We provide an overview of some of the main recent developments (since 2015) in in vitro CNS models. In particular, we focus on engineered in vitro models based on cell culture systems combined with microfluidic platforms (e.g. 'organ-on-a-chip' systems). We delve into the fundamental principles underlying these systems and review several applications of these platforms for the study of the CNS in health and disease. Our discussion further addresses the challenges that hinder the implementation of advanced in vitro platforms in personalized medicine or in large-scale industrial settings, and outlines the existing differentiation protocols and industrial cell sources. We conclude by providing practical guidelines for laboratories that are considering adopting organ-on-a-chip technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polyxeni Nikolakopoulou
- AIMES, Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rossana Rauti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dimitrios Voulgaris
- Division of Micro and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Iftach Shlomy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ben M Maoz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Anna Herland
- AIMES, Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences, Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Micro and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
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50
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Gholizadeh S, Allahyari Z, Carter R, Delgadillo LF, Blaquiere M, Nouguier-Morin F, Marchi N, Gaborski TR. Robust and Gradient Thickness Porous Membranes for In Vitro Modeling of Physiological Barriers. ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES 2020; 5:2000474. [PMID: 33709013 PMCID: PMC7942760 DOI: 10.1002/admt.202000474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Porous membranes are fundamental elements for tissue-chip barrier and co-culture models. However, the exaggerated thickness of commonly available membranes may represent a stumbling block impeding a more accurate in vitro modeling. Existing techniques to fabricate membranes such as solvent cast, spin-coating, sputtering and PE-CVD result in uniform thickness films. Here, we developed a robust method to generate ultrathin porous parylene C (UPP) membranes not just with precise thicknesses down to 300 nm, but with variable gradients in thicknesses, while at the same time having porosities up to 25%. We also show surface etching and increased roughness lead to improved cell attachment. Next, we examined the mechanical properties of UPP membranes with varying porosity and thickness and fit our data to previously published models, which can help determine practical upper limits of porosity and lower limits of thickness. Lastly, we validate a straightforward approach allowing the successful integration of the UPP membranes into a prototyped 3D-printed scaffold, demonstrating mechanical robustness and allowing cell adhesion under varying flow conditions. Collectively, our results support the integration and the use of UPP membranes to examine cell-cell interaction in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shayan Gholizadeh
- Department of Microsystems Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - Zahra Allahyari
- Department of Microsystems Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - Robert Carter
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - Luis F Delgadillo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14620, USA
| | - Marine Blaquiere
- Cerebrovascular and Glia Research, Institute of Functional Genomics (CNRS UMR5203, INSERM U1191, and University of Montpellier), Montpellier, 34094, France
| | - Frederic Nouguier-Morin
- Cerebrovascular and Glia Research, Institute of Functional Genomics (CNRS UMR5203, INSERM U1191, and University of Montpellier), Montpellier, 34094, France
| | - Nicola Marchi
- Cerebrovascular and Glia Research, Institute of Functional Genomics (CNRS UMR5203, INSERM U1191, and University of Montpellier), Montpellier, 34094, France
| | - Thomas R Gaborski
- Department of Microsystems Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
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