Our Microfluidic Chip: A Hands-On Tool for Neural Repair Studies
Overview
Welcome to the home of our microfluidic chip—a key player in our Molecular & Cellular Research Program. This isn’t just a piece of lab equipment; it’s a hands-on, easy-to-understand device that helps us study neural growth and test new treatments in a controlled in-vitro environment.
What This Chip Does
In simple terms, our microfluidic chip allows us to recreate the challenges that neurons face when they try to grow or repair themselves. It functions as a mini-lab on a chip, where we can precisely control the environment, introduce inhibitory factors or experimental interventions, and observe how different interventions perform.
Why It Matters
We’ve designed this chip to provide a reliable platform for testing various interventions on neural growth. This device enables consistent, small-scale experiments that are easy to replicate. By creating a controlled microenvironment, we can systematically evaluate promising therapeutic strategies and refine our research approaches more efficiently.
Research Possibilities and Opportunities
Beyond its primary role in neural repair studies, this chip can open new avenues in scientific research. From modeling chronic injury environments to supporting co-culture systems with myelin-forming or immune cells, and even integrating with tissue engineering scaffolds, it’s a versatile tool for a range of exploratory studies. This adaptability makes it a valuable asset not only for spinal cord injury research but also for broader regenerative medicine and beyond.
A Note on the Bigger Picture
This microfluidic chip is part of our broader toolkit for advancing SCI research. We are currently cooperating with the School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences to investigate the effects of two innovative peptides in an in-vitro environment. Regular updates will be shared as our projects progress and new findings emerge.
Exploratory Experimental Capabilities of the Microfluidic Platform
The microfluidic platform is designed to provide precise and reproducible control over the cellular microenvironment. The system incorporates separate compartments, well-defined microgrooves for guided axon growth, and a dedicated central channel for targeted interventions. This architecture allows physical separation of neuronal cell bodies from axons, supports the investigation of acute injury scenarios (such as sudden axon transection) and chronic inhibitory conditions (including long-term exposure to CSPGs), and enables live observation of axonal behavior. Experiments are conducted with minimal material consumption and a high degree of repeatability. Research areas that may be explored using this platform include:
- Nanotechnology-based approaches: investigation of nanofibers and injectable nanogels for studying activation of repair-associated signaling, localized drug delivery, and modulation of immune responses.
- Co-culture with myelin-forming cells: exploration of neuron co-culture with myelin-forming cells (such as oligodendrocytes) to study mechanisms of myelin regeneration and responses to myelin-associated inhibitory factors.
- Integration with tissue engineering strategies: evaluation of tissue engineering scaffolds—including polylaminin, fibrin hydrogels, collagen, or chitosan—within the open chamber design to examine their influence on axonal growth and scar-related processes.
- Co-culture with immune cells: investigation of interactions between neural cells and immune cells (such as microglia) to study inflammatory regulation and neural tissue protection under controlled conditions.
- Personalized in-vitro models: use of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural cells to explore individualized responses to experimental interventions in patient-specific cellular models.