In this case, the researchers grew human neuronal and glial cells within the chip, atop cells from human vasculature, the latter separated from the other cell types by a membrane, as they are in humans and other animals (
).
They then tested the chips by infecting each with one of several meningitis-causing strains of E. coli that infect newborns. They had also isolated these strains from cases of newborn meningitis, an infection that cannot be prevented by the standard vaccination against meningitis. The meningitis strains caused the neurons growing in the chips to degenerate, and ultimately, to die.
Developing the Organ-On-A-Chip Hastens Discovery of Drugs for Treating Newborn Meningitis
Newborn meningitis infects around 1% of all newborns, with a mortality rate of about 50% in developing countries, and 8-12.5% in industrialized countries. Those who recover are prone to developing neurodegenerative disease (2✔ ✔Trusted Source
Acute bacterial meningitis in infants and children
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).
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However, between 60 and 90 % of experimental drugs that work when tested for safety and efficacy in animals fail when tested in humans, which is not surprising since animal models are rough approximations of human physiology, at best.
Testing drugs on organs-on-a-chip will be far more accurate at predicting efficacy and safety in humans, said Maoz. It will also be much quicker and less expensive than testing on animals, providing answers in hours rather than weeks, months, or even years.
The organ-on-a-chip can also be used to determine how other pathologies affect the blood-brain barrier. Researchers are currently investigating how Parkinsons disease and certain drugs such as methamphetamine affect (3✔ ✔Trusted Source
Neuronal Damage and Neuroinflammation, a Bridge Between Bacterial Meningitis and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Go to source) the chip to determine how they might affect the blood-brain barrier.
They have found that crystal meth causes neurotoxicity by opening the blood-brain barrier, allowing toxic materials from blood to enter the brain. In the case of Parkinson’s disease, they observed vascular dysfunction which causes higher permeability.
References:
References :
- Insight on Bacterial Newborn Meningitis Using a Neurovascular-Unit-on-a-Chip – (https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.01233-23)
- Acute bacterial meningitis in infants and children – (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1473309909703068)
- Neuronal Damage and Neuroinflammation, a Bridge Between Bacterial Meningitis and Neurodegenerative Diseases – (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2021.680858/full)
Source: Eurekalert
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