NeuroFluidics MEA Organ-on-a-Chip Starter Kit

The NeuroFluidics MEA Organ on a chip Starter Kit is composed of 2 DuaLink MEA NeoBento EDGE (8 chips per plate), 1.5-hour of online training on microfluidics and electrophysiology recording & 1-hour support meeting with NETRI’s Field Application Scientist. The MEA Starter kit is ideal for trying out organs-on-a-chip and learning how to handle microfluidics and electrophysiology recording.

The DuaLink architecture has been specially designed to create fluidic isolation and co-culture up to 2 cell types. The plate features a MicroElectrod Array (MEA) layer to record the activity of the neurons. Each channels are connected by microchannels to allow 2 independant cell culture. Neurons are used as bio-sensors, cell bodies growing in one channel and extensions in microchannels to reach and innervate any organs cultivated in the opposite channel. Recording and processing of electrophysiological data is made possible via MEA technology and NETRI's UpLink utility software.

The NeuroFluidics MEA Line by NETRI is fabricated in PDMS for high transparency and biocompatibility and is compatible with MEA-recording (Axion Maestro EDGE or PRO). This technology is ideal for developing high-throughput organ-on-a-chip models to accelerate drug development and disease modeling.

General

NETRI’s NeuroFluidics MEA Devices are MEA-capable compartmentalized organ-on-chip. They are innovative organ-on-a-chip platforms for organ modeling and drug discovery. They offer high-throughput data collection, including electrophysiology, with up to 16 data points on the same plate. With their pump-free design and standard ANSI 96-well plate format, they can be seamlessly integrated with standard lab equipment and are compatible with a wide range of readouts for in-depth data analysis. NETRI’s platforms aim to model a wide range of organs and use neurons as bio-sensors to innervate those organs.

The DuaLink design of the NeuroFluidics Devices allows the culture of up to 2 cell types. It features 2 cell culture compartments each having its own media and coating solutions, connected through 1 compartment for fluidic isolation. Each of the 3 channels has one inlet and one outlet. In the DuaLink architecture, the lateral channels (1 and 3) are symmetric, and the central channel (2) is smaller to create a fluidic isolation compartment between them, enabling interaction while isolating the cellular compartment. Because of the micron scale of microchannels connecting channels, only cell extensions can develop in the microchannels, while cell bodies remain in the cell compartment (channels 1,2,3).

Thanks to the MicroElectrode Array (MEA) plate, developped in collaboration with Axion BioSystems, it is possible to record the electrical impact of compound on neurons somas or extensions. With 42 electrodes (white dots in the picture below) displayed both in the channels and microchannels, it is possible to record all neurons' parts: somas, axons, and dendrites. It is also possible to monitor the propagation of an action potential from one channel to the other. 

The electrophysiological recordings are performed thanks to Axion Biosystems' Maestro EDGE (8 chips per plate) instruments and results can be processed thanks to NETRI's UpLink software for easy interpretation of the collected data. 

The technology is compatible with a wide range of readouts including ELISA, Live Staining, ImmunoFluorescence, Live/Dead Assays, Electrophysiology and more.

The DuaLink MEA platform can be used for compartmentalization & electrical activity recording, to model CIPN, to model neuromuscular junction or to analyze the functional impact of compound on organ via neurons electrical activity.

Content

2x DuaLink MEA EDGE (2x 8 chips)

On-line training on microfluidics and UpLink software

1-hour support meeting

Specifications

Documentation

DuaLink MEA technical specifications

DuaLink application note - Improve reproducibility

DuaLink application note - Surface tension-based cell seeding

DuaLink MEA application note - Compartmentalized culture of primary or hiPSC-derived neurons