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Updated: Jul 21, 2026
An In Vitro Model of the Blood-brain Barrier Using Impedance Spectroscopy: A Focus on T Cell-endothelial Cell Interaction
Published on: December 8, 2016
A Microfluidic In Vitro Three-Dimensional Dynamic Model of the Blood-Brain Barrier to Study the Transmigration of
Megha Meena1, Robin Vandormael2, Maxime De Laere3
1Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine & Infectious Disease Institute (VAXINFECTIO), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
Abstract:
To study the biodistribution of new chemical and biological entities, an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) may become an essential tool during early phases of drug discovery. Here, we present a proof-of-concept of an in-house designed three-dimensional BBB biochip designed by us. This three-dimensional dynamic BBB model consists of endothelial cells and astrocytes, co-cultured on opposing sides of a polymer-coated membrane under flow mimicking blood flow. Our results demonstrate a highly effective BBB as evidenced by (i) a 30-fold increase in transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER), (ii) a significantly higher expression of tight junction proteins, and (iii) the low FITC-dextran permeability of our technical solution as compared to a static in vitro BBB model. Importantly, our three-dimensional BBB model effectively expresses P-glycoprotein (Pg-p), a hallmark characteristic for brain-derived endothelial cells. In conclusion, we provide here a complete holistic approach and insight to the whole BBB system, potentially delivering translational significance in the clinical and pharmaceutical arenas.
