Blood Brain Barrier Models

Traditional models, such as 2D cell cultures, often fail to replicate the dynamic environment of the BBB, leading to a demand for more sophisticated systems. Alfa Cytology specializes in the development of advanced blood-brain barrier models tailored for research in drug delivery and neurobiology, including organ-on-chip technologies and co-culture systems.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a physiological barrier between blood and brain tissue in the human brain, which is essential for maintaining the physiological activities of the central nervous system and the homeostasis of the brain microenvironment. Abnormal BBB function is closely related to the development of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, brain tumors, and Parkinson's disease. The structural denseness and high selectivity of the BBB make it difficult for most drug molecules to enter the brain tissue, limiting to some extent the research and development of drugs targeting the CNS. Therefore, Alfa Cytology has established an effective and reliable in vitro BBB system to help you solve the problem of existing 2D cellular and animal models deviating from the in vivo system and to help you solve the key problems in the field of new drug development and brain disease research.

Our Services

We provide you with reliable and scientific in vitro BBB models for the in-depth study of BBB pathophysiology and various related brain diseases. Our models enable the functioning of individual structures, the expression of multiple functional transporters, the restriction of substance passage, and other in vivo BBB physiological functions, as well as consistent cellular morphology and physiological structure distribution in vivo.

• Single brain microvascular endothelial cell model
• Microvascular endothelial cell + astrocyte model
• Brain microvascular endothelial cell+astrocyte+pericyte model
• Primary culture brain microvascular endothelial cells + pericytes

Technical advantages

• Barrier structure integrity, with good tight connection structure.
• Low molecular permeability, strong barrier function for small molecules.
• High transmembrane resistance, which can reach the range of physiological transmembrane resistance value.
• Can realize dynamic three-dimensional co-culture of various brain cells and observation of cell migration across the barrier.
• Mechanical fluid application and multiple drug evaluations are possible.

Applications

• Determine the levels of tight junction proteins, i.e., small band closure proteins, claudins, and occludins that regulate the BBB.
• Analyze the function of transporter proteins e.g., Pgp in normal and abnormal functioning BBB.
• Assess the real-time permeability of therapeutic agents and small molecules in the BBB endothelium.
• Understand potential mechanisms of BBB regulation by inflammatory responses.
• Visualise and quantify real-time migration of immune cells in the BBB.
• Perform genomic, proteomic, and metabolic analyses of normal and dysfunctional BBB.
• Analyze the toxic effects of chemical, biological, and physical reagents on BBB cells.
• Study the effect of tumor cells on the BBB.

The BBB model microarray system established by Alfa Cytology simulates the in vivo brain physiopathological microenvironment, providing an alternative option for brain tumor research, new drug screening and development, and toxicology studies. Please feel free to contact us for customized content.