Integrated microfluidics platforms for investigating injury and regeneration of CNS axons.
We describe the development of experimental platforms to quantify the regeneration of injured central nervous system (CNS) neurons by combining engineering technologies and primary neuronal cultures. Although the regeneration of CNS neurons is an important area of research, there are no currently available methods to screen for drugs. Conventional tissue culture based on Petri dish does not provide controlled microenvironment for the neurons and only provide qualitative information. In this review, we introduced the recent advances to generate in vitro model system that is capable of mimicking the niche of CNS injury and regeneration and also of testing candidate drugs. We reconstructed the microenvironment of the regeneration of CNS neurons after injury to provide as in vivo like model system where the soluble and surface bounded inhibitors for regeneration are presented in physiologically relevant manner using microfluidics and surface patterning methods. The ability to control factors and also to monitor them using live cell imaging allowed us to develop quantitative assays that can be used to compare various drug candidates and also to understand the basic mechanism behind nerve regeneration after injury.
Laboratory of Genetics, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Hyung Joon
HJ
Kim
Jeong Won
JW
Park
Jae Hwan
JH
Byun
Behrad
B
Vahidi
Seog Woo
SW
Rhee
Noo Li
NL
Jeon
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D008954:Models, Biological; D009416:Nerve Regeneration