Next-generation in vitro blood-brain barrier models: benchmarking and improving model accuracy

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Current in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) models face limitations compared to post-mortem tissues and animal models.
• Advances in stem cell technology and tissue engineering are crucial for developing more accurate BBB models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review factors influencing the accuracy of in vitro BBB models.
• To guide the development of next-generation in vitro BBB models that closely mimic the human brain.
• To enable the assessment of physiological and pathological responses in health and disease.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on in vitro BBB models.
• Analysis of factors determining model accuracy, including cell sources and microenvironmental cues.
• Discussion of advancements in stem cell technology and tissue engineering for 3D model development.

Main Results:

• In vitro BBB models offer precise control over variables and microenvironmental cues, surpassing limitations of traditional models.
• Next-generation models will feature spatial organization of diverse cell types in 3D microenvironments.
• Improved models will enhance accuracy and specificity for studying brain zonation, regional differences, and various demographic and disease states.

Conclusions:

• Optimizing cell sources and microenvironmental cues is key to enhancing in vitro BBB model accuracy.
• Advanced in vitro BBB models are essential for studying complex neurological processes and diseases.
• These models will facilitate research across diverse factors like age, sex, ethnicity, and disease state.