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Self-assembled innervated vasculature-on-a-chip to study nociception
Vardhman Kumar1, David Kingsley2, Sajeeshkumar Madhurakkat Perikamana2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States of America.
Biofabrication
|March 30, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed a novel microfluidic model to study pain signaling. This model integrates sensory neurons and microvasculature, enhancing pain response studies and disease modeling for conditions like tissue acidosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Vascular Biology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Nociceptor sensory neurons are crucial for pain perception.
- Crosstalk between neurons and the vascular system influences pain, neurogenesis, and angiogenesis.
- In vitro models are needed to study these interactions and facilitate drug screening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a microfluidic-assisted tissue model of nociception with integrated microvasculature.
- To investigate the interaction between nociceptor neurons and endothelial cells.
- To demonstrate the platform's utility in modeling pain associated with tissue acidosis.
Main Methods:
- Engineered a self-assembled innervated microvasculature using endothelial cells and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons.
- Utilized a microfluidic platform to co-culture these cell types.
- Assessed neuronal morphology, response to capsaicin, and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) expression.
Main Results:
- Distinct morphologies were observed between sensory neurons and endothelial cells in co-culture.
- Neurons showed an elevated response to capsaicin when co-cultured with vasculature.
- Increased TRPV1 receptor expression was noted in DRG neurons in the presence of vascularization.
Conclusions:
- The developed microfluidic model successfully integrates nociceptors and microvasculature.
- This platform enhances neuronal response to stimuli and receptor expression, mimicking in vivo conditions.
- The model is applicable for studying nociception in conditions like tissue acidosis and holds potential for vascular disorder pain research.
