High throughput 3D gel-based neural organotypic model for cellular assays with fluorescence biosensors

Abstract Three-dimensional (3D) organotypic models that capture native-like physiological features of tissues are being pursued as clinically predictive assays for therapeutics development. A range of 3D neural organotypic models are being developed to mimic brain morphology, physiology, and pathology of neurological disease. Biofabrication of 3D gel-based cellular systems is emerging as a versatile technology to produce spatially and cell-type tailored, physiologically complex and native-like tissue models. Here we produce 3D fibrin gel-based functional neural co-culture models with human iPSC differentiated dopaminergic or glutamatergic neurons and astrocytes. We further introduce genetically encoded fluorescence biosensors for real time functional measurements of intracellular calcium and levels of dopamine and glutamate neurotransmitters, in a high throughput compatible plate format. We use optogenetic activation and pharmacological perturbations to demonstrate that functional responses in 3D fibrin gel neural models are as relevant to be expected from in vivo data, compared to the equivalent 2D neural models.