Cerebral organoids are composed of several types of human neuronal cells, mainly astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and neurons, which self-organize in 3D. These three-dimensional multicellular structures create cellular interactions and maturation relevant to human pathophysiology. However, despite their relevance, their functional analyses remain difficult to implement, thus causing problems in high-throughput analysis. Co-cultured with blood-brain barrier (BBB) cells, brain organoids are relevant models for understanding the fine mechanisms of action of neurotoxicity of a drug candidate, toxin or pesticide. The BBB, composed of astrocytes, vascular cells and pericytes, protects the brain from the peripheral environment.

At NETRI, we are thinking of a microfluidic device with 2 compartments separated by a porous membrane coupled to a MultiElectrod Array (MEA) plate, which will allow the identification of specific electrophysiological signatures by tested compounds. Composed of a 3D-Deposition Chamber, specially designed to receive an organoid, a porous membrane coupled to a MEA plate and a perfusion channel, specially designed to increase the supply of nutrients to the center of the organoid, this microfluidic device would not only allow to co-cultulture of a brain organoid and BBB cells but also to record the functional activity of the organoid