Engineering microsystems to recapitulate brain physiology on a chip. Issue 9 (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ndyabawe, Kenneth; Kisaalita, William S.
• Is Part Of: Drug discovery today. Volume 24:Issue 9(2019)
• Page Start: 1725
• Page End: 1730
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: Drugs -- Design -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Research -- Periodicals; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.06.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-6446

Abstract

Highlights: A case is made to shift to multiple region neuron network designs. Challenges, such as derivation of multiple neuron phenotypes from stem cells, are highlighted. Guidance, depending on objective (e.g., HTS), is provided for rational microfluidic systems design. Abstract : The structural and functional organization of the human brain consists of 52 regions with distinct cellular organization. In vitro models for normal and pathological states using isolated brain-region-specific 3D engineered tissues fail to recapitulate information integration and/or transfer that arises from connectivity among neuroanatomical structures. Therefore, development of brain-on-a-chip microsystems must shift to multiple region neuron network designs to be relevant in brain functionality and deficit modeling. However, in vitro formation of multiregional networks on microdevices presents several challenges that we illustrate using a few neurological disorders; and we offer guidance, depending on objectives (HTS, disease modeling, etc.) for rational design of microfluidic systems and better emulation of in vivo conditions.