Neuromuscular junction assay
Isolation of different cell types to reconstitute the in vivo organization
4DCELL DEVICE
READ-OUTS
Synapse formation, separation of motor neuron and muscle cells environments, understanding cellular signaling and pathogenic mechanisms in neuromuscular degenerative disorders, investigation of treatments in malfunctioning neuromuscular junctions (NMJs).
STANDARD CULTURE LIMITATION
When grown in traditional co-culture with myotubes, motor neurons form rudimentary NMJs.
NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION ASSAY
This assay mimics spatial organization between motor neurons (central nervous system/spinal cord) and muscle cells (peripheral nervous system).
As motor neurons and muscle cells face very different in vivo microenvironments, culturing neurons and myoblasts in separated compartments (with neuronal or muscle cells) using 4Dcell microchannels, mimics physiological situations where only axon passes between them [1] [2].
EXAMPLE
Compartmented co-cultures of glial and muscle cells added with motor neurons on microfluidic chambers [1]
