A Triple Culture Cell System Modeling the Human Blood-Brain Barrier

Abstract

The delivery of drugs to the brain remains a challenge due to the blood-brain barrier's (BBB) highly specific and restrictive properties, which controls and restrict access to the brain parenchyma. However, with the development of nanotechnologies, large panels of new nanomaterials were developed to improve drug delivery, highlighting the need for reliable in vitro microsystems to predict brain penetration in the frame of preclinical assays. Here is a straightforward method to set up a microphysiological system to model the BBB using solely human cells. In its configuration, the model consists of a triple culture including brain-like endothelial cells (BLECs), pericytes, and astrocytes, the three main BBB cellular actors necessary to induce and regulate the BBB properties in a more physiological manner without the requirement of tightening compounds. The model developed in a 12-well plate format, ready after 6 days of triple culture, is characterized in physical properties, gene, and protein expressions and used for polymeric nanogel transport measurement. The model can be used for an extensive range of experiments in healthy and pathological conditions and represents a valuable tool for preclinical assessments of molecule and particle transport, as well as inter-and intracellular trafficking.