Advanced brain-on-a-chip technology developed by EU-funded researchers is helping to streamline potential treatments for neurological diseases.
A human brain on a chip sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, like a gadget that powers an evil cyborg.
But Dr. Raquel Rodrigues, who is a chemical and biological engineer at the Iberian International Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Braga, Portugal, believes that such a device will be key to developing more effective treatments for serious neurological disorders such as be Alzheimer’s.
“The brain is a very complex and intriguing organ,” says Rodrigues. “We need electronic monitoring of cells and experimental parts so we can find out how they work.”
The brain on a chip
Thanks to research funding from the EU, Rodrigues and his fellow researchers at INL were able to build a unique microchip that emulates the brain, as part of a research effort called BrainChip4MEDwhich spanned two years and ended in February 2024.
The research included a 12-month secondment at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, part of Harvard Medical School and a pioneering institution in the development of organs-on-a-chip (OoC) and biosensors.
The ingenious miniature device developed by researchers looks like chips in computers or smartphones, but is much more complex.
The brain-on-a-chip simulates how the human brain works, bridging chemistry, engineering and biology to create a complex micro-biosensor system for real-time screening of novel nanotherapies.
Based on a technology called microfluidics, the chip has several micro-channels – tens to hundreds of micrometers in size – through which fluids can pass. Thus, very small quantities of product can be analyzed and multiple samples can be tested simultaneously, reducing overall testing costs.
The protective brain barrier
One of the researchers’ central goals was to address the issue of developing drugs capable of crossing the so-called blood-brain barrier.
This layer of tight junction cells helps protect the brain from toxins, germs, and other harmful substances that may be present in the blood.
Only the smallest molecules can pass through the blood-brain barrier. Although this plays a very important protective role, it has also hampered efforts to develop drugs for the treatment of neurological disorders.
Any drug intended to treat the brain must pass through this membrane to reach its target. But in the absence of human testing, there are few effective ways to determine how well a drug will be able to penetrate the brain.
“Currently, there are only four Alzheimer’s drugs available commercially, and none of them actually treat Alzheimer’s disease, but only act on the symptoms,” says Rodrigues.
“This is because pharmaceutical companies have to invest large sums in drugs that they are not sure will cross the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, I don’t do it.”
A pharmaceutical company might spend millions to develop a drug, only to discover later that it cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. EU funding for the new brain-emulating chip developed at INL solves this problem.
Imitating life on a chip
The research team recreated the blood-brain barrier membrane on a chip using bioorganic material.
“That’s what sets us apart,” says Rodrigues. “We use a biomembrane that more closely resembles the barrier in our brain. Other devices use physical barriers, made of polymer components. We believe that a biological one is superior.”
With this new advanced brain-on-a-chip technology, researchers will be able to inject an early-stage drug into the chip to monitor its effects and see how well it can penetrate the brain.
The aim is to change the way these types of drugs are developed. Currently, this type of testing is mostly done on animals, which comes with a number of ethical dilemmas and practical inconveniences. These organ-on-a-chip microchips offer a possible alternative to traditional animal testing.
“An animal brain is different from a human brain,” says Rodrigues. “That’s why many drugs in development fail to produce results. Animal testing doesn’t necessarily reproduce something that happens in humans.”
The stakes are high. Brain disorders are one of the greatest health challenges of our time. It is estimated that around 165 million Europeans suffer from a brain disorder. One in three people will suffer from a neurological and/or mental disorder at some point in their lives.
The total costs for European healthcare budgets are estimated at €800 billion annually, and this amount will increase with the aging of the population.
Included here are well-known neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, but also other disorders such as epilepsy, depression, strokes, migraines, sleep disorders, traumatic brain injuries, pain syndromes and addiction.
An important step forward
INL is one of the main European research institutes, being co-financed by the national governments of Portugal and Spain.
It also enjoys support from the EU and industry. Dr. Manuel Bañobre-López, leader of the Nanomedicine Research Group at INL, oversaw the creation of the new chip.
“At INL, we have extensive experience in microfluidics, the discipline that studies the type of chip we created in BrainChip4MED,” says Bañobre-López.
However, it may be a while before the brain-on-a-chip device is ready for use, he warns.
Although the prototype is ready, further refinements are needed. It will have to undergo rigorous testing to ensure it can be used for drugs that will eventually be given to human patients. This process alone will take years.
However, researchers are optimistic.
“We have to fight Alzheimer’s, it is one of the most problematic neurological diseases worldwide,” says Rodrigues. “And for this, we need to find new drugs. The technology we have developed is an important step in this direction.”
Article written by Tom Cassauwers
The research mentioned in this article was funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The views of the interviewees do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission.
More information
This article was originally published in Horizonthe EU research and innovation journal.
Welcome to the Future: A Brain-On-A-Chip!
Who would have thought, in a world of gadgets that sometimes look like they’re auditioning for a role in a sci-fi horror flick, we’d be creating a brain on a chip? But here we are, thanks to some very clever folks funded by the EU, and they’ve got their sights set on making neurological disease treatments more streamlined than a double espresso at a hip café.
Dr. Raquel Rodrigues, a chemical and biological engineer (no, she doesn’t have a cape, but she might as well with the breakthroughs she’s making), is leading the charge over at the Iberian International Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Portugal. She’s turned the brain into a silicon sculpture, and it’s not just for show. “The brain is a very complex and intriguing organ,” she says. Intrigued? Honey, it’s more complicated than my last relationship!
The Brain-On-A-Chip
Imagine a microchip that emulates the brain – it’s part of a two-year endeavor called BrainChip4MED. Yes, that’s right, it ran for two years and ended in February 2024. It’s like the reality TV of medical research, but without the drama of contestants being eliminated each week!
This research included a 12-month secondment at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a place that’s basically the Hogwarts of medical research. While others are playing with their PlayStation, these folks engineered something way more mind-bending than any virtual reality game!
The chip doesn’t just sit there looking pretty; it simulates how the human brain ticks. We’re talking chemistry, engineering, and biology getting together for a three-way that leads to a complex micro-biosensor system for real-time screening of new nanotherapies. Who knew a chip could be this intelligent? I’m just trying to keep my smartphone from crashing!
The Protective Brain Barrier
Now, let’s dive into the blood-brain barrier. It sounds like a bad nightclub, but it’s actually a crucial protective shield – only the tiniest of substances can get past. It’s like a bouncer that only lets in the VIPs! Unfortunately, this makes drug development a bit of a nightmare. “Currently, there are only four Alzheimer’s drugs available commercially, and none of them actually treat Alzheimer’s disease, but only act on the symptoms,” Rodrigues laments. And there we were thinking the pharmaceutical industry had it all sorted out.
Just imagine pouring millions into a drug only to find out it can’t even get through this metaphorical door! Enter the brain-on-a-chip chip.
Imitating Life on a Chip
These mad scientists recreated the blood-brain barrier using bioorganic materials. “That’s what sets us apart,” Rodrigues insists. Yes, they’ve brought biochemistry to a whole new level because biology textbooks are *so* last season. Instead of polymers, they’re using something more organic. Just when I thought I was behind on new age trends!
With this new tech, researchers can inject early-stage drugs into the chip and monitor their effects. The hope here is to ditch traditional animal testing—which is often more like playing a game of ‘pin the tail on the donkey’ with ethical dilemmas—to test on something that more closely mimics our own lovely grey matter. You hear that, PETA? We might be onto something!
The stakes couldn’t be higher. With approximately 165 million Europeans living with a brain disorder—the odds, as they say, are not in our favor. One in three people dealing with a neurological or mental disorder at some point? Talk about a party I didn’t sign up for!
An Important Step Forward
INL isn’t messing around; they’ve got serious backing from the EU among others. Dr. Manuel Bañobre-López is overseeing this brainy venture, leading the Nanomedicine Research Group. “At INL, we’ve got extensive experience in microfluidics,” he says. Yes, they’re about as micro as you can get without needing a magnifying glass!
But before we pop the champagne, he warns that it may take a while for this clever chip to hit the market. They’ve got a prototype, sure, but like a wine that needs time to breathe, this chip needs its testing period. Rigorous testing for years, in fact. So while progress is being made, don’t expect to see *brain-chip espresso machines* anytime soon!
But we’re hopeful. “We need to fight Alzheimer’s,” Rodrigues emphasizes. “This technology is an important step in this direction.” And if that isn’t a clarion call for action, I don’t know what is!
Ns suffering from brain disorders, and one in three people facing some form of neurological or mental illness in their lifetime, the potential impact of this research is significant. The staggering costs to European healthcare systems, estimated at around €800 billion annually, reflect the urgent need for effective treatments. Traditional animal testing is inadequate; as Dr. Rodrigues points out, ”an animal brain is different from a human brain,” leading to many drug failures during clinical trials.
An Important Step Forward
At the forefront of this groundbreaking project is INL, a leading European research institute supported by Portuguese and Spanish governments, the EU, and industry stakeholders. Dr. Manuel Bañobre-López, who leads the Nanomedicine Research Group, highlights the extensive expertise at INL in microfluidics—critical for the creation of the new chip.
While the prototype is complete, Bañobre-López warns that it will take time for the brain-on-a-chip device to be ready for clinical applications. Future refinements and rigorous testing are essential to ensure safety and efficacy before the technology can benefit human patients— a process that may extend over several years.
Nonetheless, there’s a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Dr. Rodrigues emphasizes the pressing need to combat Alzheimer’s disease, which poses a significant challenge globally. “For this, we need to find new drugs. The technology we have developed is an important step in this direction,” she asserts.
As researchers work tirelessly on improving this innovative brain-on-a-chip technology, the potential for changing the landscape of drug development is enormous. It represents not just a novel approach to testing, but possibly a future where more effective treatments for neurological disorders could become reality—offering hope to millions.
Article written by Tom Cassauwers
The research mentioned in this article was funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The views of the interviewees do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission.
More information
This article was originally published in Horizon, the EU research and innovation journal.
