Current overview of induced pluripotent stem cell-based blood-brain barrier-on-a-chip

Author(s)

Alves, Arielly da Hora ; Nucci, Mariana Penteado ; do Valle, Nicole Mastandrea Ennes ; Missina, Juliana Morais ; Mamani, Javier Bustamante ; Rego, Gabriel Nery Albuquerque ; Dias, Olivia Furiama Metropolo ; Garrigos, Murilo Montenegro ; de Oliveira, Fernando Anselmo ; Gamarra, Lionel Fernel

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: WORLD JOURNAL OF STEM CELLS; v. 15, n. 6, p. 22-pg., 2023-06-26.

Abstract

BACKGROUNDInduced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) show great ability to differentiate into any tissue, making them attractive candidates for pathophysiological investigations. The rise of organ-on-a-chip technology in the past century has introduced a novel way to make in vitro cell cultures that more closely resemble their in vivo environments, both structural and functionally. The literature still lacks consensus on the best conditions to mimic the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for drug screening and other personalized therapies. The development of models based on BBB-on-a-chip using iPSCs is promising and is a potential alternative to the use of animals in research.AIMTo analyze the literature for BBB models on-a-chip involving iPSCs, describe the microdevices, the BBB in vitro construction, and applications.METHODSWe searched for original articles indexed in PubMed and Scopus that used iPSCs to mimic the BBB and its microenvironment in microfluidic devices. Thirty articles were identified, wherein only 14 articles were finally selected according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data compiled from the selected articles were organized into four topics: (1) Microfluidic devices design and fabrication; (2) characteristics of the iPSCs used in the BBB model and their differentiation conditions; (3) BBB-on-a-chip reconstruction process; and (4) applications of BBB microfluidic three-dimensional models using iPSCs.RESULTSThis study showed that BBB models with iPSCs in microdevices are quite novel in scientific research. Important technological advances in this area regarding the use of commercial BBB-on-a-chip were identified in the most recent articles by different research groups. Conventional polydimethylsiloxane was the most used material to fabricate in-house chips (57%), whereas few studies (14.3%) adopted polymethylmethacrylate. Half the models were constructed using a porous membrane made of diverse materials to separate the channels. iPSC sources were divergent among the studies, but the main line used was IMR90-C4 from human fetal lung fibroblast (41.2%). The cells were differentiated through diverse and complex processes either to endothelial or neural cells, wherein only one study promoted differentiation inside the chip. The construction process of the BBB-on-a-chip involved previous coating mostly with fibronectin/collagen IV (39.3%), followed by cell seeding in single cultures (36%) or co-cultures (64%) under controlled conditions, aimed at developing an in vitro BBB that mimics the human BBB for future applications.CONCLUSIONThis review evidenced technological advances in the construction of BBB models using iPSCs. Nonetheless, a definitive BBB-on-a-chip has not yet been achieved, hindering the applicability of the models. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/21470-3 - Therapeutic action of mesenchymal stem cells from human bone marrow labeled with multimodal nanoparticles in diabetic rats subjected to stroke: study of cellular, molecular and functional mechanisms.
• Grantee: Lionel Fernel Gamarra Contreras
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/17868-4 - Therapeutic action of mesenchymal stem cells of the human bone marrow, marked with multimodal nanoparticles, in diabetic rats submitted to focal cerebral ischemia: study of cellular, molecular and functional mechanisms
• Grantee: Yolanda Oliveira Pinto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 19/21070-3 - Evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of physical activity-associated nanoparticle-labeled stem cells in the focal ischemia model
• Grantee: João Victor Matias Ferreira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation