New brain-on-a-chip ‘can aid neurological studies’

Researchers from the University of Twente have created a new brain-on-a-chip system to support future research on the brain, diseases and the effects of medication.

It consists of a sieve with 900 openings, each of which has the shape of an inverted pyramid, with a micro-reactor driving cell growth. Each pyramid is equipped with an electrode for measuring electrical signals, while liquids can flow the tiny holes, allowing cells to be captured and nutrients or medication to be transferred.

This allows the brain-on-a-chip system to mimic the brain in a realistic way, providing facilities for fluid flow and freedom for the cells to function, even when kept in predefined spaces.

Growth and electrical activity can be monitored via this system, and the positioning of the cells and neuronal network growth have been successfully tested using living cells from lab rats.

It is hoped that this technology will offer numerous advantages in the study of brain cell function the effect of medication on individual cells compared to conventional Petri dishes with flat electrodes.