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Estimating Brain Permeability Using In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Models

Protocol
First Online:
Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB, volume 2367)

Abstract

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a vital biological interface that regulates transfer of different molecules between blood and brain and, therefore, maintains the homeostatic environment of the CNS. In order to perform high-throughput screening of therapeutics in drug discovery, specific properties of the BBB are investigated within in vitro BBB platforms. In this chapter, we detail the process and steps for the iPSC to BMEC and astrocyte differentiation as well as TEER and permeability measurement in Transwell platform of in vitro BBB model. Also, advanced microfluidic iPSCs-derived BMECs on chip and permeability measurement within this model have been elucidated.

Keywords

BBB iPSC Endothelial cells Astrocytes Co-culture model Transwell insert In vitro permeability Microfluidic chips 
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© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2020

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of PharmacyTexas Tech University Health Sciences CenterAmarilloUSA
  2. 2.Center for Blood-Brain Barrier Research, School of PharmacyTexas Tech University Health Sciences CenterAmarilloUSA

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