3D In Vitro Neuron on a Chip for Probing Calcium Mechanostimulation

Abstract

The evolution of tissue on a chip systems holds promise for mimicking the response of biological functionality of physiological systems. One important direction for tissue on a chip approaches are neuron‐based systems that could mimic neurological responses and lessen the need for in vivo experimentation. For neural research, more attention has been devoted recently to understanding mechanics due to issues in areas such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and pain, among others. To begin to address these areas, a 3D Nerve Integrated Tissue on a Chip (NITC) approach combined with a Mechanical Excitation Testbed (MET) System is developed to impose external mechanical stimulation toward more realistic physiological environments. PC12 cells differentiated with nerve growth factor, which were cultured in a controlled 3D scaffolds, are used. The cells are labeled in a 3D NITC system with Fluo‐4‐AM to examine their calcium response under mechanical stimulation synchronized with image capture. Understanding the neural responses to mechanical stimulation beyond 2D systems is very important for neurological studies and future personalized strategies. This work will have implications in a diversity of areas including tissue‐on‐a‐chip systems, biomaterials, and neuromechanics.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Sep 02, 2020
Source ID
10.1002/adbi.202000080

Entities

People

  • Akash Garg
  • Justin Bobo
  • Manoj Puthenveedu
  • Philip R. LeDuc
  • Prahatha Venkatraman

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Gates Foundation
  • National Science Foundation
  • Office of Naval Research
  • Pennsylvania Department of Health
  • University of Michigan

Tags

Readers

  • Neurotrauma and Rehabilitation Medicine.
  • Robotics and Automation.
  • Trauma Surgery or Emergency Medicine.