title: Modeling the Blood-Brain Barrier in a 3D triple co-culture microfluidic system.
abstract: 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.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adriani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pavesi
authors.forename: E L K
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kamm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D001692:Biological Transport; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects; D018920:Coculture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D003911:Dextrans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D010539:Permeability; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans