A microfluidic blood-brain barrier model with on-chip cell barrier biosensing**

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We are developing a high throughput, easy-to-use microfluidic system, used to model the interface between blood vessels and tissues for drug screening, transport studies and basic research, with a first application in blood brain barrier (BBB) modelling. Transport of drugs across the BBB is of prime interest to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries because the BBB is impermeable to many drugs, making neurological diseases difficult to treat. Development of neurological drugs is hampered by poor model systems, as animal models often fail to replicate human biology and current laboratory models of the BBB inadequately replicate the environment in the body, leading to poor predictive power.** We have developed a microfluidic cell culture system that addresses the unmet need for advanced cell culture systems that better replicate human biology for drug development. The focus of this proposal is to improve the functionality of our system by integrating electrical sensors to monitor the quality of the BBB model directly on the platform. This is an essential feature of BBB models, but is not incorporated into any commercially-available organ-on-a-chip platform.** In partnership with CellScale Biomaterials, an Ontario-based biotechnology manufacturing company, we will optimize the design of the electrodes and sensing system, integrate it into our microfluidic platform, validate its application for BBB modeling, and develop scalable manufacturing processes for commercial translation.** CellScale is strongly supporting this project through both cash and in-kind contributions. They are uniquely positioned in Canada to leverage the research outputs of this project to develop products that will be market-ready within two years, contribute to the development of highly qualified personnel, generate new jobs, and contribute to economic growth in Canada as a new R&D and manufacturing centre for advanced cell culture biotechnologies.