InSphero is now offering human 3D neural microtissues

(CONNECT) With its new product, 3D-InSight, InSphero enables early safety assessment for the central nervous system in drug development. The global provider of 3D cell-based testing methods and organ-on-a-chip systems for laboratory medicine offers it ready-to-use: The cortical 3D neural microtissue—which mimics the cerebral cortex—is available in so-called well plates or microtiter plates with standard 96- or 384-well formats.

Human neural microtissues are three-dimensional spheroids that better replicate the architecture, cell-cell interactions, and functional neural network activity of brain tissue than conventional two-dimensional in vitro cultures. According to a press release from the company, which is based at the Bio-Technopark Schlieren-Zurich, these reflect the complex neural biology that can be used in scalable neurotoxicity screenings to assess how safe a drug candidate is for the human central nervous system.

According to the information provided, the microtiter plates—each well of which contains a microtissue sample—allow for immediate screening and long-term studies lasting up to four weeks. This saves biotech companies the time, cost, and complexity of conducting their own 3D modeling and allows for early conclusions regarding neurotoxicity and functional impairments of the central nervous system during the course of the study.

Laboratories have the option of choosing between two predefined neuron-to-astrocyte ratios and cell count formats, depending on their experimental goals. Functional data can be obtained through calcium imaging or electrophysiology. The microtissues remain viable and functional for up to eight weeks. This supports long-term treatment with medications at the clinically prescribed dosage.

InSphero was spun off from the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich in 2009. ce/mm