Microfludic maze for studying the role of neuron-glia signalling in neuronal networks

© 15CBMS-0001. To increase our understanding of the role of glia in signalling within the central nervous system, a novel three-compartment co-culturing device was developed. This device consisted of two compartments for the culture of separate neuron populations, with a third compartment facilitating a glial co-culture. The device utilized an array of 10 banks to create a maze-like structures to block axonal growth and synaptic connections between the two neuron populations, while being permissive to glial growth in a fluidically isolated microenvironment. Ongoing investigation utilizing this platform will help to establish whether glial cells can facilitate the communication and potentially the propagation of pathogenic protein between distinct neuronal populations.