The study aimed to develop a 3D in vitro Nerve-On-A-Chip model using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from healthy individuals and those with SOD1 mutations. The goal was to create a system that models motor neuron diseases and facilitates preclinical neurotoxicity testing.
The team utilized microengineered hydrogel scaffolding to control and confine 3D axon growth, simulating nerve fiber tracts. Key evaluation metrics included robust nerve growth, fasciculation, and glial interactions.
The model successfully demonstrated robust neurite outgrowth (~5mm) in both healthy and SOD1 motor neurons. Histological examination revealed ultrastructural differences between the two cell types. Healthy motor neurons showed electrical activity through extracellular recording of compound action potentials.
This innovative 3D Human-Motor-Nerve-On-A-Chip effectively models motor neuron diseases, showing potential for robust in vitro testing in neurotoxicity studies and pharmacological screening.
