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Microfluidic Systems to Mimic the Blood-Brain Barrier: from Market to Engineering Challenges and Perspectives
Gabriela Gomes da Silva1,2, Daniel Pereira Sacomani1, Bruna Gregatti de Carvalho1
1Department of Material and Bioprocess Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo 13083-970, Brazil.
ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering
|June 25, 2025
Summary
Blood-brain barrier-on-a-chip (BBB-on-a-chip) models offer advanced mimicry of human blood vessels and flow, enhancing drug development. These organ-on-a-chip systems are rapidly evolving with new fabrication techniques and commercial applications.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Traditional cell culture methods fall short for complex biological systems.
- Blood-brain barrier-on-a-chip (BBB-on-a-chip) models are emerging technologies.
- These models integrate fluid flow and co-culture capabilities to mimic in vivo conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the intersection of techniques, market, and applications for BBB-on-a-chip models.
- To analyze the growth of the organ-on-a-chip market and industry collaborations.
- To provide an overview of BBB-on-a-chip fabrication, design, and challenges.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent publications and market analysis in the BBB research field.
- Examination of various prototyping techniques (laminate manufacturing, molding, 3D printing).
- Analysis of different chip designs (planar, cylindrical) and materials (thermoplastics, elastomers, hydrogels).
Main Results:
- Significant increase in BBB research publications over the last five years.
- Emergence of companies commercializing BBB-on-a-chip technology, primarily for pharmaceutical applications.
- Organ-on-a-chip market growth and collaborative research between suppliers and industry.
Conclusions:
- BBB-on-a-chip technology presents a promising advancement beyond traditional methods.
- The technology has potential applications in drug development, though not yet fully integrated.
- Continued innovation in fabrication, design, and characterization is crucial for mimicking the BBB effectively.
