Abstract
Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) and organ-on-a-chip (OOC) devices are highly versatile platforms that enable miniaturization and advanced controlled laboratory functions (i.e., microfluidics, advanced optical or electrical recordings, high-throughput screening). The manufacturing advancements of LOCs/OOCs for biomedical applications and their current limitations are briefly discussed. Multiple studies have exploited the advantages of mimicking organs or tissues on a chip. Among these, we focused our attention on the brain-on-a-chip, blood–brain barrier (BBB)-on-a-chip, and neurovascular unit (NVU)-on-a-chip applications. Mainly, we review the latest developments of brain-on-a-chip, BBB-on-a-chip, and NVU-on-a-chip devices and their use as testing platforms for high-throughput pharmacological screening. In particular, we analyze the most important contributions of these studies in the field of neurodegenerative diseases and their relevance in translational personalized medicine.
Highlights
Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices are promising microfluidic platforms that allow miniaturization and the integration of multiple laboratory functions
The goal of this review is to summarize the most recent studies on microfluidic platforms mimicking the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and/or the neurovascular unit (NVU), and to outline the reports focused on the use of these platforms as pharmacological screening tools in neuropathologies
Lab-on-a-chip/organ-on-a-chip technology has the potential to become an everyday tool to be used in current clinical practice for drug screening
Summary
Lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices are promising microfluidic platforms that allow miniaturization and the integration of multiple laboratory functions They may accommodate specific components and functions, such as electronics, optics, fluidics, or biosensing structures, at a centimeter/millimeter down to micro- and nanoscale [1,2]. Small volumes have significant benefits, which include reduced reagent costs and increased accuracy of analysis Such biochips, made of glass or polymers, allow biological investigations at the cellular level, including single cell analysis. LOCs can be used in different studies targeting organ/tissue models, including the blood–brain barrier, blood vessels, kidney, heart, lung, liver, intestine, muscle, or even tumors [5] The advantages of this technology rely on increased spatial resolution for interrogation, automated measurements, robustness, low costs, and user-friendly properties [6]. The goal of this review is to summarize the most recent studies on microfluidic platforms mimicking the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and/or the neurovascular unit (NVU), and to outline the reports focused on the use of these platforms as pharmacological screening tools in neuropathologies
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