[00042236]Invitro Neuron Culture Plat form（Brain-on-a-Chip）

技术原理 The goal of our research is to develop a high-throughput microfluidic in vitro 3D CNS neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) aggregate platform to recapitulate major neural development processes in vitro. Microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip technologies will be the core technologies for this development. The proposed platform will be composed of multiple microfluidic modules；(1)an aggregate generation module, (2) a culture platform module with capabilities to control aggregate distributions, and localized treatments, and (3) an on一chip drug dilution generation module. Recently, we have developed a CNS neural aggregate culture model as an in vitro model system to study neural development and myelinogenesis, and showed much more robust CNS myelin generation compared to conventional 2D culture. Our initial studies suggest that the extent of myelination depends on many physical and biochemical factors that are not easy to control and isolate. The proposed platform will take our recently developed neural aggregate culture model to the next level by providing means to generate large numbers of size controlled NSPC aggregates and provide physically and biochemically controlled microenvironment with single aggregate resolution. The developed platform will be used to characterize parameters influencing CNS development, how aggregate sizes, aggregate-to-aggregate distances, and biochemical/electrical stimulation effect OL lineage development and myelinogenesis. These studies should provide important insights into the neurodevelopmental mechanisms as well as provide new avenues for therapeutics development in the future. 应用市场 The project is to develop a platform for neuroscientists for basic research.