Drug efficacy can be measured through various assays, such as anti-proliferative effect, assessment of cell viability after treatment, and measuring the distribution of the drug into solid tumor models. However, one of the biggest challenges in drug development is the ability of drugs to penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and reach the central nervous system (CNS). The BBB is a highly selective semipermeable membrane that separates circulating blood from the CNS. It protects the brain from fluctuations in plasma composition, pathogenic agents, and maintains homeostasis of the brain parenchyma. The BBB is permeable to hydrophobic molecules and utilizes active transport to move ions, glucose, and other critical molecules across the membrane. BBB permeability assessment is critical for drugs targeting regions of the brain, as poor penetration of the BBB is the cause for attrition for 95% of drugs developed for neurological disorders.
Traditional in vivo models are costly and low-throughput, making it difficult to mimic the complex system of the BBB. Additionally, they are unable to accurately predict in vivo outcomes. As such, it is of great interest to explore potential molecules that can modulate BBB permeability. The BBB is a complex hurdle that must be overcome when delivering drugs to the brain.
Our Blood Brain Barrier Model
Our in vitro assay service utilizes a novel BBB in vitro model to assess 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.
Our in vitro blood brain barrier permeability assessment can help maximize drug efficacy. By assessing the ability of drug compounds to penetrate the BBB and the effect of compounds on the structure and function of the BBB, our assay service can help predict the BBB permeability of test compounds and identify potential issues before they arise. This can save time and resources in the drug development process, and ultimately lead to more effective drugs for neurological disorders.
The assay services we offer provide clients with more accurate and reliable information for making better informed decisions early in the drug development pipeline. Our assays allow for customized projects, proof-of-concept studies, and milestone-based project management to ensure alignment with client expectations. This unique approach to 3D cell culture model analysis allows for the entire population of cells to be characterized, and we provide comprehensive reports that distill the data to its essential components, giving actionable insights about the experiment.
Work With Us
Drug development for CNS disorders can benefit from the in vitro blood brain barrier permeability assessment. Poor penetration of the BBB can cause attrition for 95% of drugs developed for neurological disorders. Our assay service provides clients with more accurate and reliable information for making better informed decisions early in the drug development pipeline. These services have been used by all of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies and over 1,000 research labs. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to a member of our team today!