Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Minh Tran, Chaejeong Heo, Luke P. Lee, Hansang Cho
Summary: This review provides insights into the development and application of in vitro human blood-brain barrier (BBB) models for studying physiology and pathology of neurological therapeutic avenues. It highlights the critical components for reconstructing a miniaturized human BBB and discusses recent breakthroughs and applications in the field. The review offers strategies for understanding neurological diseases, a validation model for drug discovery, and a potential approach for personalized medicine.
BIOMATERIALS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Zhengyu Wei, Brittany Bodnar, Ruo-Tong Zhao, Qianhao Xiao, Sami Saribas, Xu Wang, Wen-Zhe Ho, Wenhui Hu
Summary: The brain is an important site for HIV infection, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders due to a lack of suitable in vitro models. However, the development of three-dimensional brain organoids derived from induced pluripotent stem cells has provided a clinically relevant model for studying HIV infection in the brain. Recent publications have demonstrated the feasibility and advantages of this model for studying HIV neuropathology and developing therapeutics.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Sarah Fernandes, Davis Klein, Maria C. Marchetto
Summary: Brain organoids are proving to be valuable models for studying human brain development, allowing for the replication of human-specific developmental processes and identification of potential therapeutic targets or disease prevention strategies. The technology holds promise for accurately representing and elucidating human brain development processes.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Janko Kajtez, Fredrik Nilsson, Alessandro Fiorenzano, Malin Parmar, Jenny Emneus
Summary: Inherent limitations of traditional approaches to studying brain function and disease have prompted the development of 3D in vitro cell culture systems. These multidisciplinary systems have shown great potential in mimicking the biochemical composition, structural properties, and cellular morphology of the native brain tissue.
NEUROCHEMISTRY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Yasue Uchida, Yukiko Nishita, Rei Otsuka, Saiko Sugiura, Michihiko Sone, Tatsuya Yamasoba, Takashi Kato, Kaori Iwata, Akinori Nakamura
Summary: Brain reserve, including brain volume, is a topic of interest in aging medicine. The concept explains why some individuals retain cognitive function despite brain pathology. Age-related hearing loss is a modifiable risk factor for dementia and is related to changes in brain volume. Understanding the relationship between hearing loss and brain morphology is important for research in this field.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Hongbin Liang, Zhilin Qi, Shuai Wang, Xiaoliang Huang, Wende Yan, Yingzhong Yuan, Zhiqiang Li
Summary: This study summarizes the methods of experiments, simulation, and models on shale gas adsorption and clarifies their advantages and disadvantages. The results show that the isothermal adsorption experiment is still the basic method, molecular simulation can reveal the microcosmic mechanisms but has limitations, and the shale gas adsorption models are difficult to reflect shale reservoir characteristics.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Galina Popova, Sarah S. Soliman, Chang N. Kim, Matthew G. Keefe, Kelsey M. Hennick, Samhita Jain, Tao Li, Dario Tejera, David Shin, Bryant B. Chhun, Christopher S. McGinnis, Matthew Speir, Zev J. Gartner, Shalin B. Mehta, Maximilian Haeussler, Keith B. Hengen, Richard R. Ransohoff, Xianhua Piao, Tomasz J. Nowakowski
Summary: The study compared human microglia states across different culture models and developed a report card of gene expression signatures to facilitate characterization of their responses under various conditions. Xenotransplantation of human microglia into cerebral organoids allowed the characterization of key transcriptional programs of developing microglia and their effects on neural stem cells. Additionally, microglia were found to modulate synaptic density and accelerate synchronized oscillatory network activity in brain organoids.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
You Jung Kang, Hsih-Yin Tan, Charles Y. Lee, Hansang Cho
Summary: PM2.5 particulate matter, a major air pollutant, has been linked to neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease. Studies show that PM2.5 exposure can lead to neuronal damage and neuroinflammation in the brain.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Jee Yoon Park, Hosub Lim, Jianhua Qin, Luke P. Lee
Summary: Organs-on-chips or organoids microphysiological analysis platforms (MAP) have become a focus of attention in disease models, drug discovery, and developmental biology. Reproducing human pregnancy through bioengineering devices is significant and has made progress in cell cultures, reproductive organ reconstruction, and diseases research.
Review
Cell Biology
Xinchen Yang, Jing Tan, Jiaoqiong Guan
Summary: Central nervous system disorders have a significant impact on the lives and health of millions of people worldwide. Nanotechnology offers a solution to bypass the blood-brain barrier and safely deliver drugs to targeted brain regions through the nasal drug delivery system, improving drug bioavailability and minimizing side effects and mucociliary clearance.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Qian Yang, Yan Hong, Ting Zhao, Hongjun Song, Guo-Li Ming
Summary: Human neurogenesis mainly occurs in embryonic, fetal, and neonatal stages, generating diverse neural cell types that form the human nervous system. Brain organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells can recapitulate major developmental processes during neurogenesis and exhibit human-specific features, offering unprecedented opportunities for studying human neurodevelopment.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zaidoon M. Shakor, Emad N. Al-Shafei
Summary: Catalyst deactivation is a complex phenomenon that requires the identification of an appropriate deactivation model, which plays a significant role in catalyst design and optimization of catalytic processes. Different mechanisms of catalyst deactivation by coke and metal deposition result in different deactivation models. Rigorous mathematical models coupling reaction kinetics with deactivation kinetic equations are used to evaluate product distribution over time. Selective and nonselective deactivation kinetic models are designed to understand catalyst deactivation through heterogeneous chemical reactions. This review focuses on catalyst deactivation models for CO2 hydrogenation, Fischer-Tropsch, biofuels, and fossil fuels, aiming to improve the representation of catalyst activities in various catalytic systems.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Theresa S. P. Rothenbucher, Hakan Gurbuz, Marta P. Pereira, Arto Heiskanen, Jenny Emneus, Alberto Martinez-Serrano
Summary: Culturing brain organoids with a polycaprolactone scaffold for flat morphology improves diffusion conditions, prevents necrotic tissue formation, increases organoid size significantly, and allows for the observation of spontaneous gyrification.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jiajia Yang, Laurentius Huber, Yinghua Yu, Peter A. Bandettini
Summary: Laboratory animal research has provided valuable knowledge about the function of cortical circuits at the laminar level, which, when combined with fMRI and neural models, offers new opportunities for insights. Recent human studies have demonstrated the importance of high-resolution fMRI in studying laminar-specific activity in the human brain. Advancements in laminar fMRI are opening up new possibilities for studying questions in basic cognitive neuroscience.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Marco Aqil, Selen Atasoy, Morten L. Kringelbach, Rikkert Hindriks
Summary: Tools from graph signal processing, specifically the graph Laplacian, have been successfully used to model neural activity and investigate structure-function relationships in the human brain. The models, called graph neural fields, allow for predictions of harmonic and temporal power spectra, functional connectivity, and coherence matrices. This approach, applied directly on the human connectome graph, provides insights into the organization of brain activity and potential avenues for future research.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Hsih-Yin Tan, Yi-Chin Toh
Article
Neurosciences
Heejung Chun, Hyeonjoo Im, You Jung Kang, Yunha Kim, Jin Hee Shin, Woojin Won, Jiwoon Lim, Yeonha Ju, Yongmin Mason Park, Sunpil Kim, Seung Eun Lee, Jaekwang Lee, Junsung Woo, Yujin Hwang, Hyesun Cho, Seonmi Jo, Jong-Hyun Park, Daesoo Kim, Doo Yeon Kim, Jeong-Sun Seo, Byoung Joo Gwag, Young Soo Kim, Ki Duk Park, Bong-Kiun Kaang, Hansang Cho, Hoon Ryu, C. Justin Lee
NATURE NEUROSCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aniela Bittner, Fabien Gosselet, Emmanuel Sevin, Lucie Dehouck, Angelique D. Ducray, Veronique Gaschen, Michael H. Stoffel, Hansang Cho, Meike Mevissen
Summary: The study showed that the polymer-coated silica nanoparticles used in human brain endothelial cells and blood-brain barrier models do not damage the blood-brain barrier.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Van Thi Ai Tran, You Jung Kang, Hyun-Kyoung Kim, Hyung-Ryong Kim, Hansang Cho
Summary: Porphyromonas gingivalis, a gram-negative bacterium in the human oral cavity, may contribute to the development of chronic periodontitis and neurological diseases by inducing neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
You Jung Kang, Hsih-Yin Tan, Charles Y. Lee, Hansang Cho
Summary: PM2.5 particulate matter, a major air pollutant, has been linked to neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease. Studies show that PM2.5 exposure can lead to neuronal damage and neuroinflammation in the brain.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Terry Ching, Jyothsna Vasudevan, Shu-Yung Chang, Hsih Yin Tan, Anupama Sargur Ranganath, Chwee Teck Lim, Javier G. Fernandez, Jun Jie Ng, Yi-Chin Toh, Michinao Hashimoto
Summary: This study introduces a versatile fabrication technique that combines microfluidics and bioprinting to generate cell-laden biomimetic vascular models. By using special molds and bioinks, freestanding and perfusable vascular constructs with complex geometries are fabricated. This technique holds potential for mechanistic understanding of cardiovascular diseases and the development of therapeutic interventions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Min-Ho Hwang, You Jung Kang, Hyeong-Guk Son, Hansang Cho, Hyuk Choi
Summary: This study investigated the inflammatory response of microglial cells in a reconstituted degenerative intervertebral disc (IVD) model. The findings suggest that degenerative IVD may induce degenerative microglial proinflammation, leading to the development of low back pain (LBP).
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
You Jung Kang, Yingqi Xue, Jae Hee Shin, Hansang Cho
Summary: Neurological disorders in the CNS have devastating impacts on patients' life, but developing effective medicines is a challenging task due to the complexity of the human brain. Microfluidic techniques enable the formation of miniaturized 3D human brains, providing physiopathologically-relevant models for studying CNS disorders. This review presents the designs and strategies of microfluidics-based human mini-brains for reconstituting specific disorders such as AD, PD, TBI, VD, and ERFD, and discusses their applications in understanding pathogenic mechanisms and identifying biomarkers. The review also explores the use of expanded model systems to study the entry pathways of pathological risk factors into the brain.
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Minh Tran, Chaejeong Heo, Luke P. Lee, Hansang Cho
Summary: This review provides insights into the development and application of in vitro human blood-brain barrier (BBB) models for studying physiology and pathology of neurological therapeutic avenues. It highlights the critical components for reconstructing a miniaturized human BBB and discusses recent breakthroughs and applications in the field. The review offers strategies for understanding neurological diseases, a validation model for drug discovery, and a potential approach for personalized medicine.
BIOMATERIALS RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Huyen Ngo, Sarnai Amartumur, Van Thi Ai Tran, Minh Tran, Yen N. Diep, Hansang Cho, Luke P. Lee
Summary: The advancements in cancer-on-chip technology have allowed for the recapitulation of vital biological features of various cancer types and their applications in life sciences and high-throughput drug screening. However, challenges such as the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and integrating multiple organs still need to be addressed. Integrated biosensors in advanced cancer-on-chip platforms offer high-throughput monitoring of real-time cellular responses for drug development.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
You Jung Kang, Yen N. Diep, Minh Tran, Van Thi Ai Tran, Ghuncha Ambrin, Huyen Ngo, Hansang Cho
Summary: This article describes a protocol for fabricating a microfluidic device and using it in three-dimensional human neural cultures to study neuron-glia interactions in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The device can replicate pathological features of major neurological disorders and reveal the mechanisms of neuro-glia interactions. The protocol requires training in basic molecular biology techniques.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Terry Ching, Jyothsna Vasudevan, Hsih Yin Tan, Chwee Teck Lim, Javier Fernandez, Yi-Chin Toh, Michinao Hashimoto
Summary: The translated text introduces a cost-effective and highly customizable micro-peristaltic pump kit, showcasing its assembly process and testing results. The kit is modular in design, with features such as strong customizability, easy replacement of parts, and forward compatibility.