Draper Laboratory and University of South Florida researchers are developing a prototype “brain-on-a-chip.” No, it’s not an AI but rather a combination of living cells and microfluidics in a bio-artificial model of the brain’s nerovascular unit, the system of neurons, capillaries, and other cells that control the supply of nutrients to the brain. Eventually, such a device could be used to test medications and vaccines. And that’s just the beginning.
“In addition to screening drugs, we could potentially block vascular channels and mimic stroke or atherosclerotic plaque,” says lead researcher Anil Achyuta. “Furthermore, this platform could eventually be used for neurotoxicology, to study the effects of brain injury like concussions, blast injuries, and implantable medical devices such as in neuroprosthetics.”
“Draper Laboratory Developing “Brain-on-a-Chip”“