Bioengineered 3D Tissue Models

3D Neurite Outgrowth Model

REPROCELL Europe’s Chief Scientific Officer and Durham University Professor of Cell Technology, Professor Stefan Przyborski, – has been using Alvetex™ 3D scaffold technology to develop 3D cell assays since the early 2000's. This includes the combination of neurospheres with Alvetex™ Scaffold to form a quantifiable, robust and reliable assay of neurite extension and growth. This assay can provide information regarding the neurotoxicity or ability of test compounds to perturb neurite growth or to enhance neurite growth in the presence/absence of an inhibitory stimulus.

This system has been applied to study aspects of neuroscience where attenuation of neuronal connectivity plays a role in the pathogenic mechanism. This includes both the glial scar that arises post-spinal cord injury (SCI) and combined with our Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patient-derived (StemRNA™ Neuro) cells to provide information regarding the reduction in neuronal connectivity associated with AD pathogenesis.

Through adsorption coating of the growth surface, this assay can provide insight into the neurite promoting or inhibiting ability of biochemically active motifs such as those derived from the extracellular matrix (ECM), including laminin and chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs). Furthermore, through addition of soluble factors or test compounds to the growth medium, this assay can provide information regarding the ability of pathway inhibitors or therapeutic lead compounds on neurite extension and growth.

Developed in partnership with the University of Durham, REPROCELL’s iPSC-derived StemRNA™ Neuro cells (available as healthy wild-type and Alzheimer Disease patient-derived (presenilin 2 mutation)) are used to assess pathological changes in vitro.

This system is compatible with many physiological and pathological ECM coatings (laminin, CSPGs), known pathway inhibitors, and therapeutic lead compounds.

  • Measure inhibition and recovery of neurite outgrowth
  • Use iPSC-derived StemRNA™ Neuro cells derived from healthy or Alzheimer Disease donors 
  • Explore pathological changes in functional human cells in vitro 
  • Assess physiological and pathological ECM coatings, known pathway inhibitors, and test articles

alvetex-science-neurite-outgrowth

Immunocytochemistry analysis showing neurites in our 3D outgrowth model. 

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