Blood Brain Barrier & Neuromuscular Junction related applications

Neuromuscular junction:

Neuromuscular disorders present persistent challenges in therapeutic intervention, largely due to the absence of reliable predictive models for studying the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Enhancing the predictive capacity of these models holds immense potential for elucidating the mechanisms underlying NMJ development, maintenance, and pathology.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) represent a promising avenue for generating human NMJ models, facilitating investigations into synaptic development, maturation, and disease pathogenesis, as well as drug discovery endeavors. Leveraging iPSCs alongside innovative technological platforms is instrumental in crafting robust models for therapeutic exploration and development.

Within the dynamic landscape of the neuromuscular junction, precise regulation of assembly and plasticity is orchestrated by intricate communication among motor nerve endings, muscle fibers, and glial cells. Dysregulated intercellular signaling within this milieu is implicated in age-related physiological alterations and pathological conditions, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), where mutations in C9ORF72 stand as a prevalent genetic cause.

In this collaborative effort between NETRI and AXOL, we introduce a pioneering approach combining NETRI's Dualink microfluidic technology with iPSC-derived motor neurons (MNs) and skeletal muscle (myotubes). This synergy integrates compartmentalized microfluidic architecture with multi-electrode array (MEA) technology, enabling precise measurement of neuronal hyperexcitability and NMJ dynamics in vitro, notably in the context of C9orf72 mutation ALS iPSC models.

NETRI's microfluidic devices offer fluidically isolated compartments, fostering specificity in compound treatments, while facilitating the quantification of muscle contractility and neuronal firing patterns. This integration underscores the potential of NETRI's platforms in advancing the fidelity and translational relevance of NMJ models, thereby catalyzing breakthroughs in therapeutic discovery and development.

Speaker : Benoît Maisonneuve