Multiple induced neurochip model based on microfluidic chip technology

Nervous system development is a highly dynamic and extremely complex process. Animal life organisms need to produce a sufficient number of neurons and direct these microenvironment-sensitive neurons to complete axonal extension, dendritic branching and synapse formation, achieving highly accurate and specific neural connections, thereby enabling the physiological functions of the organism. Coordinate with each other. Axon guidance plays a crucial role in this process. The growth cone at the front of the axon achieves precise axonal guidance by detecting and identifying different signals (attraction and repulsion) in the extracellular environment and converting the signal into a chemically directional reaction. Establishing in vitro biomimetic tissue extracellular microenvironments, exploring and understanding these complex neurodevelopmental processes (eg, attraction and rejection signaling integration to guide axonal extension) has great scientific research in neuroscience, developmental biology, and clinical medicine. Value. However, at present, domestic and foreign scholars mainly focus on the single-factor-induced neurodevelopment, and the in vitro construction of the nervous system development microenvironment involved in multiple inducing factors and its techniques and methods need to be further resolved.

The Liu Wenming Group of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, and the Wang Jinyi Group of the College of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, used microfluidic chip technology to introduce hydrogel materials into specific micro-pipes. The micro-scale, time and space control of concentration gradients of different biochemical molecules in different directions were successfully realized. It was verified that the multi-directional hydrogel barrier can satisfy the fast, stable and long-term single linear and double-radiation chemical concentration gradients in the chip. Shear force occurs; further, based on microfluidic precise fluid manipulation, the mouse primary cortical neuron culture in the chip is completed, and it maintains high activity, representative neuronal phenotype and neurite outgrowth and elongation; important Yes, experimental studies have confirmed that the chip model can be used for axon guidance research in the neural-guided attraction and rejection factor gradient coexistence microenvironment. The microfluidic multi-gradient chip established in this study provides a good micro-scale operation and analysis prototype platform for exploring neurogenesis, development and regeneration. Researchers believe that this methodological advancement will help to optimize the design and bionic construction of multi-concentration gradient tissue microenvironment systems with spatio-temporal control, with important application research potential in the fields of neurobiology, oncology, inflammation, and precision medicine. .