Drug discovery is a complex and time-consuming process that involves identifying and developing new drugs to treat a variety of diseases. One of the biggest challenges in drug development is getting the drug to the target site in the body. For drugs targeting regions of the brain, poor penetration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the cause for attrition for 95% of drugs developed for neurological disorders. This is where Visikol’s in vitro blood brain barrier permeability assay can revolutionize the drug discovery process.
The Blood Brain Barrier
The BBB is a highly selective semipermeable membrane that separates circulating blood from the central nervous system. It protects brain nervous tissue from the fluctuation of plasma composition, from pathogenic agents, and maintains homeostasis of the brain parenchyma by restricting non-specific flux of ions, peptides, proteins, and cells into and out of the brain. The BBB is important in drug development because poor penetration of the BBB is the cause for attrition for 95% of drugs developed for neurological disorders. As such, it is of great interest to explore potential molecules that can modulate BBB permeability.
In the past, assessing BBB permeability was a challenge, as it required costly, low-throughput animal studies. However, with the advent of in vitro models, it is now possible to assess BBB permeability in a more cost-effective and efficient manner. In vitro models are created by culturing 3D BBB models over 4 days to establish a viable barrier, then dosing the models with test articles for twenty-four hours. The in vitro model is validated with control compounds and reference compounds to compare differences in compound penetration across the BBB as a function of time. The advantages of in vitro methods over in vivo methods include lower cost, higher throughput, and the ability to study BBB permeability without the ethical concerns associated with animal studies.
Visikol’s BBB Assay
Visikol’s assay service is an in vitro assay that assesses the penetration kinetics of molecules passing across the BBB and the effect of compounds on the structure and function of the BBB. The assay service allows for both compound transport across the barrier to be studied as well as the effect of compounds on the structure and function of the BBB. The in vitro model is validated with control compounds and reference compounds, and the results show a positive relationship between the apparent permeability seen within in vivo systems to in vitro models.
The BBB assay offered by Visikol is a game-changer in drug discovery. By using a novel BBB in vitro model, Visikol offers an in vitro assay capable of assessing the penetration kinetics of molecules passing across the BBB, which allows for both compound transport across the barrier to be studied as well as the effect of compounds on the structure and function of the BBB. This can help reduce the risk of failure in clinical trials by identifying compounds that are more likely to penetrate the BBB and reach the brain parenchyma in therapeutically relevant concentrations.
Visikol’s expertise lies in transforming tissues into actionable insights and bridging the gap between in vitro assays and in vivo results through the use of best-in-class cell culture models. The company provides end-to-end services that include 3D tissue imaging, multiplex tissue imaging, digital pathology, high content imaging, 2D cell culture assays, 3D cell culture assays, and ex vivo tissue slice assays. The company has several patented and proprietary technologies for tissue imaging, tissue processing, and image analysis.
This BBB assay is a valuable tool for drug discovery and development. By providing insights into the BBB permeability of test compounds, Visikol’s assay service can help reduce the risk of failure in clinical trials and improve the chances of success for drugs targeting regions of the brain. To learn more about Visikol’s in vitro blood brain barrier permeability assessment, reach out to a member of our team today.