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Abstract
<p class="first" id="P3">The blood-brain barrier (BBB) regulates molecular trafficking,
protects against pathogens,
and prevents efficient drug delivery to the brain. Models to date failed to reproduce
the human anatomical complexity of brain barriers, contributing to misleading results
in clinical trials. To overcome these limitations, a novel 3-dimensional BBB microvascular
network model was developed via vasculogenesis to accurately replicate the
<i>in vivo</i> neurovascular organization. This microfluidic system includes human
induced pluripotent
stem cell-derived endothelial cells, brain pericytes, and astrocytes as self-assembled
vascular networks in fibrin gel. Gene expression of membrane transporters, tight junction
and extracellular matrix proteins, was consistent with computational analysis of geometrical
structures and quantitative immunocytochemistry, indicating BBB maturation and microenvironment
remodeling. Confocal microscopy validated microvessel-pericyte/astrocyte dynamic contact-interactions.
The BBB model exhibited perfusable and selective microvasculature, with permeability
lower than conventional
<i>in vitro</i> models, and similar to
<i>in vivo</i> measurements in rat brain. This robust and physiologically relevant
BBB microvascular
model offers an innovative and valuable platform for drug discovery to predict neuro-therapeutic
transport efficacy in pre-clinical applications as well as recapitulate patient-specific
and pathological neurovascular functions in neurodegenerative disease.
</p>