Brain-on-a-chip microfluidic platform for mimicking the blood-brain barrier

• Grant number: 21/02795-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: August 01, 2021
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Lucimara Gaziola de la Torre
• Grantee: Gabriela Gomes da Silva
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/12605-8 - Development of brain-on-a-chip microplataforms for in vitro modeling of the central nervous system, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/12354-3 - Investigation of the combinatorial effects of oxidative stress, aging, and app mutations on blood-brain barrier function, BE.EP.DD

Abstract

The aging of the world population and the development of degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, whose cures are still unknown, have required creating strategies that make it possible to study them. The development of new drugs to prevent and treat these diseases depends on drug delivery strategies that can cross the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). The BBB, composed of endothelial cells, astrocytes, and pericytes, consists of a semi-permeable, highly selective barrier, which acts as an interface between the peripheral blood circulation and the Central Nervous System (CNS). Its malfunction may be related to the onset and development of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Diseases. Technological advances in the microfluidic area have enabled the construction of microenvironments that mimic human conditions in vivo and contribute as a tool for understanding the functioning of the BBB and studies on the permeation of new drugs. In this context, this research project has as main objectives (I) to develop two microfluidic device designs: 3D planar and tubular parallel, which allow the co-cultivation of cells and mimic the BBB; (II) study the combination of different hydrogels to provide adequate biocompatibility for cell growth and technological viability; (III) validate the design strategies for the planar and tubular microdevices in the formation of the microenvironment and; (IV) evaluate the microdevices and characterize the functionality of the BBB model. This project has the collaboration of the Microfabrication Laboratory (LMF), the National Nanotechnology Laboratory (LNNano) of the Energy and Materials Research Center (CNPEM), and the UNIFESP Neurobiology Laboratory. Besides, this project is part of the thematic project "Development of brain-on-a-chip micro platforms for modeling the central nervous system in vitro". It is hoped that this project can contribute to the development of innovative platforms that mimic in vivo conditions, specifically applied to BHE, and in the future allow advances in knowledge of cellular communication and accelerate the evaluation of new drugs. (AU)