IQ-MPS Affiliate perspectives on blood-brain barrier microphysiological systems: Progress and challenges ahead

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biotechnology
• Drug Delivery

Background:

• The blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the brain but hinders therapeutic access.
• Aging populations face rising neurological disorders, increasing the need for brain-targeted treatments.
• Current animal and in vitro models have limitations in predicting human drug efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an industry perspective on using microphysiological systems (MPS) for brain drug delivery.
• To discuss the application of MPS for novel therapeutic modalities.
• To highlight key considerations for qualifying MPS models for drug testing.

Main Methods:

• Review of microphysiological systems (MPS) technology and applications.
• Discussion of challenges in current blood-brain barrier (BBB) models.
• Industry expert commentary on MPS model development and qualification.

Main Results:

• MPS models offer enhanced predictive power for brain drug delivery compared to traditional models.
• MPS can accommodate newer drug modalities like biologics and nanoparticles.
• Standardized qualification is crucial for reliable MPS model performance.

Conclusions:

• Microphysiological systems (MPS) represent a significant advancement for testing brain therapeutics.
• Addressing model qualification gaps is essential for widespread adoption.
• MPS contribute to the 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement) in preclinical research.