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An optically transparent membrane supports shear stress studies in a three-dimensional microfluidic neurovascular unit model
Sellgren, K., Hawkins, B., & Grego, S. (2015). An optically transparent membrane supports shear stress studies in a three-dimensional microfluidic neurovascular unit model. Biomicrofluidics, 9(6), 61102. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4935594
We report a microfluidic blood-brain barrier model that enables both physiological shear stress and optical transparency throughout the device. Brain endothelial cells grown in an optically transparent membrane-integrated microfluidic device were able to withstand physiological fluid shear stress using a hydrophilized polytetrafluoroethylene nanoporous membrane instead of the more commonly used polyester membrane. A functional three-dimensional microfluidic co-culture model of the neurovascular unit is presented that incorporates astrocytes in a 3D hydrogel and enables physiological shear stress on the membrane-supported endothelial cell layer