Project description
An array of miniature electrodes elucidates drug effects on neuronal synaptic transmission
High-throughput assays to test the effects of drug candidates on the nervous system are largely lacking, particularly when it comes to evaluating functional effects on synaptic transmission and network signalling. Measuring changes in the synaptic activity of neurons, for example individual action potentials simultaneously in many cells, has been quite difficult to achieve. Building on work in the predecessor project neuroXscales, the EU-funded project HD-Neu-Screen is exploiting its CMOS microelectronics-based high-density microelectrode arrays (HD-MEA) to do just that in a functional neuronal assay for drug screening. The array of microelectrodes will enable recording and stimulation of populations of neurons in culture with very high spatial and temporal resolution, using their functional electrical responses to drugs as the assay's primary output.
Objective
In order to overcome the limitations of existing methods for phenotypic drug screening, we propose to develop accurate, label-free, functional neuronal assays for phenotypic/functional drug screening in vitro. These assays will rely on the primary readout of neurons - their electrical signals. We propose to translate and commercialize the assessment of characteristic electrophysiological features of subcellular neuronal components, individual neurons and neuronal networks, all of which can be obtained with high-density microelectrode array technology (HD-MEA), into functional neuronal assays for drug screening. Most of these characteristic features have been developed in the concurrent ERC AdG “neuroXscales”. The model systems for the PoC will include commercially available hiPSC-derived neuronal cell lines. The PoC will be performed in collaboration with the company MaxWell Biosystems AG (http://www.mxwbio.com/) which commercializes multi-well HD-MEA platforms for use in research labs and industry.
Fields of science
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Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept GrantHost institution
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland