High-throughput Microfluidic 3D Outer Blood-Retinal Barrier Model in a 96-Well Format: Analysis of Cellular Interactions and Barrier Function in Retinal Health and Disease

Abstract

Numerous diseases, including AMD (age-related macular degeneration), arise from the blood-retinal barrier and blood vessel abnormalities in the eye; unfortunately, there is a lack of reliable in-vitro models for their systematic study. This study describes a high-throughput microphysiological system (MPS) designed to model the outer Blood-Retinal Barrier (oBRB). The MPS platform is engineered to integrate seamlessly with high-content screening technologies, utilizing a design with a single oBRB model incorporating RPE (retina pigment epithelial cells) and endothelial cell co-culture to fit within a single 96-well. Arranged in the standard 96-well plate format, the platform allows high-throughput assessment of barrier integrity through 3D confocal imaging (ZO-1 staining), Trans Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER), and permeability measurements. The oBRB model enables the investigation of crosstalk among different cell types in co-culture. This includes assessing changes in the barrier integrity of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) monolayer and investigating neovascularization events resulting from endothelial cell remodeling. The platform is positioned for utility in drug discovery and development efforts targeting diseases involving oBRB damage and choroidal neovascularization, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).