3D Ex Vivo Human Nerve Tissue Model Introduction

Currently, neurological disorders (NDs) remain a threat to global health. Typical NDs include acute traumatic injury, neurodegenerative disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders. There is still no effective treatment to cure NDs. A lack of understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms hampers the development of new therapeutic strategies. Consequently, an increasing number of models have been developed to recapitulate the complex cell-cell and cell-environment interactions in vivo, which provide new insights into the treatment of NDs. At Creative Biolabs, our 3D human nerve tissue models allow researchers to characterize molecular changes associated with NDs and evaluate the effect of compounds on NDs, which provides an attractive platform for preclinical drug development.

Fig.1 Ex vivo models for neural regeneration and engineering. (Mobini, 2019)

Drawbacks of Traditional Models

• Cell models

Traditional in vitro cell culture models typically consist of homogeneous cells and thus lack the 3D environment in which native cells naturally grow. Second, cellular models are insufficient to recapitulate the physiology of the nervous system due to insufficient cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Importantly, it is difficult for cell models to accurately predict in vivo responses.

• Animal models

The first limitation of animals as preclinical models is the biological mismatch. Truly mimicking human neurological injury in animal models has been elusive due to the wide range of differences between species. Additionally, monitoring ongoing changes in animals is challenging. Notably, for experimental animals, increased regulatory, space and husbandry burdens have prevented the frequent use of these models. Most importantly, the use of animals in neuroscience research is accompanied by growing ethical concerns.

Ex Vivo Human Nerve Tissue Models

The development of ex vivo models of nerves is advancing rapidly. To some extent, ex vivo models fill the gap between cell culture and in vivo models. These models play a crucial role in simulating the in vivo environment of the injured brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, providing a cost-effective alternative for NDs research. Ex vivo neural models share many typical features.

Fig.2 Characteristics of the ex vivo model. (Creative Biolabs)

Applications

Ex vivo models are essential tools for neural tissue engineering and regenerative medicine research. Ex vivo neural models allow the exploration of pathogenic mechanisms in the nervous system under laboratory conditions. In addition, ex vivo models have contributed to the characterization of molecular changes associated with neuropathic pain, providing attractive tools for assessing drug effects on painful tissues.

After decades of expansion, Creative Biolabs has established extensive cooperation with hospitals and organ procurement organizations. Based on rich market experience and an extensive medical network, we are committed to providing industry-leading ex vivo human nerve tissue models for scientific research and drug discovery. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

More 3D ex vivo human neurological system tissue models are available by the following link:

• 3D Ex Vivo Human Brain Tissue Model
• 3D Ex Vivo Human Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) Tissue Model
• 3D Ex Vivo Human Spinal Cord Tissue Model
• 3D Ex Vivo Human Vertebral Column Tissue
• 3D Ex Vivo Neuroinflammation Model
• 3D Ex Vivo Human Eye Tissue Model

Related Sections:

• Ex Vivo Human Genitourinary Tissue Model
• Ex Vivo Human Skin System Tissue Model
• Ex Vivo Human Urinary System Tissue Model
• Ex Vivo Neurological System Model
• Ex Vivo Human Digestive System Model
• Ex Vivo Human Musculoskeletal System Tissue Model
• Ex Vivo Human Respiratory System Tissue Model
• Ex Vivo Human Endocrine System Tissue Model
• Ex Vivo Human Cardiovascular Tissue Model