Jibo Wang, Haowen Qiao, Zhenyan Wang, Wen Zhao, Tao Chen, Bin Li, Lili Zhu, Sihan Chen, Longjun Gu, Ying Wu, Zhentao Zhang, Linlin Bi, Pu Chen
Advanced Materials, 12 May 2023
Researchers use the noninvasive, label-free Maestro MEA to characterize cortical microtissues in vitro.
Studying the human cerebral cortex is essential for understanding the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases but developing biologically relevant in vitro models of the multilayered brain region can be challenging. In this study, researchers used acoustic fields to generate cortical microtissues with cells in concentric rings that form synapses across neighboring layers. To characterize the microtissues, the scientists used Axion’s noninvasive, label-free Maestro multielectrode array (MEA) system, with results showing “that the bioassembly of neural stem cells into cortical microtissues enhanced subsequent neural maturation and improved neural network development.” Overall, the authors suggest that acoustically assembled cortical microtissues are a promising platform for neurobiological and neurological research.
