Adriani G, Ma D, Pavesi A, Goh E L K, Kamm R D
Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2015;2015:338-41. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2015.7318368.
The need for a blood-brain barrier (BBB) model that accurately mimics the physiological characteristics of the in-vivo situation is well-recognized by researchers in academia and industry. However, there is currently no in-vitro model allowing studies of neuronal growth and/or function influenced by factors from the blood that cross through the BBB. Therefore, we established a 3D triple co-culture microfluidic system using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) together with primary rat astrocytes and neurons. Immunostaining confirmed the successful triple co-culture system consisting of an intact BBB with tight intercellular junctions in the endothelial monolayer. The BBB selective permeability was determined by a fluorescent-based assay using dextrans of different molecular weights. Finally, neuron functionality was demonstrated by calcium imaging.
学术界和工业界的研究人员都充分认识到需要一种能够准确模拟体内生理特征的血脑屏障（BBB）模型。然而，目前尚无体外模型可用于研究穿过血脑屏障的血液因素对神经元生长和/或功能的影响。因此，我们建立了一种三维三重共培养微流控系统，该系统使用人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVEC）以及原代大鼠星形胶质细胞和神经元。免疫染色证实了成功构建的三重共培养系统，该系统在内皮单层中具有紧密的细胞间连接，形成了完整的血脑屏障。通过使用不同分子量的葡聚糖的基于荧光的测定法来确定血脑屏障的选择性通透性。最后，通过钙成像证明了神经元的功能。
