Neuroinflammation is the inflammation of the brain and neurons. Many events can lead to neuroinflammation, including infections, brain injury, toxic metabolites, aging and autoimmune diseases. The neuroinflammation is mediated by the production of cytokines, chemokines, reactive oxygen species, and secondary messengers. These mediators are produced by resident CNS glia (microglia and astrocytes), endothelial cells, and peripherally derived immune cells.

We have developed at NETRI compartmentalized microfluidic devices with an enhanced fluidic isolation that allow co-culture of 3 cell types in 3 isolated but connected compartments, such as neurons and CNS resident glial cells.