Porous Optically Transparent Cellulose Acetate Scaffolds for Biomimetic Blood-Brain Barrier Models

Published in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, vol. 9, 630063 (2021) · Frontiers Media · Open access, CC BY
DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.630063

Summary

Testing whether a drug crosses the blood-brain barrier normally requires animal brains, with all the ethical and practical limits that implies. In vitro models offer a closed system in which the relevant variables can be set and monitored instead, and this study builds one on porous cellulose acetate scaffolds. The scaffolds are optically transparent, which is the decisive property: it allows the cell layer to be observed directly under the microscope while the barrier function is being measured, making the model suitable for high-throughput quantitative screening.

Authors & Affiliations

  • Attilio Marino Corresponding
    Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pontedera, Italy
  • Matteo Baronio
    Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
  • Ugo Buratti
    Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Italy
  • Elisa Mele
    Materials Department, Loughborough University, United Kingdom
  • Gianni Ciofani Corresponding
    Smart Bio-Interfaces, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Pontedera, Italy

Linari Electrospinning Systems

Linari high voltage generator (dual connection)
A Linari Engineering generator was connected to both the syringe needle and the collector at an applied voltage of 12 kV - the double-generator configuration that becomes possible when the collector is insulated from ground, as on our high voltage systems (control unit HVG-CONT-LCD).

Topics

Blood-Brain Barrier Models Transparent Scaffolds Drug Screening Alternatives to Animal Testing

Materials

Cellulose acetate
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