We have created engineered microstructures to mimic the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and placental barrier. 

The BBB is a highly selective semipermeable membrane made up of endothelial cells that separates blood from the brain’s extracellular fluid, thus regulating the chemicals that reach the brain from the circulatory system. The BBB breaks down with age, and its disruption plays a role in many age-related disorders, primarily neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). NDs are a group of diseases that entail progressive degeneration of the structure and function of neurons. Neurons do not generally regenerate after they are damaged, so degeneration may lead to impairments in cognition, motor skills, and sensory functions. There is currently no cure for NDs, but treatments focus on managing symptoms and improving quality of life. Research is ongoing to better understand the underlying mechanisms of these disorders. The lack of an accurate in-vitro BBB model leads to a poor understanding of the breakdown that occurs with age, which has the potential to lead to NDs. Likewise, the lack of research on electrical properties within the BBB and waste elimination tactics for in-vitro models are other important areas to be investigated. We have successfully created an innovative 3-D cell-culture platform that mimics the tubal structure found in the BBB. This platform is capable of hosting neural cell lines, such as human brain endothelial and astrocyte cells. 

Due to the particular structure and functionality of the placenta, most current human placenta drug testing methods are limited to animal models, conventional cell testing, and cohort/controlled testing. Previous studies have produced inconsistent results due to physiological differences between humans and animals and limited availability of human and/or animal models for controlled testing. To overcome these challenges, a placenta-on-a-chip system has been developed for studying the exchange of substances to and from the placenta. Xenobiotic compound transport across the placental barrier is studied due to the daily exposure of pregnant individuals to these materials.