A team of researchers from Concordia University and McGill University has designed a “lab‑on‑a‑chip” that emulates the advancement of Alzheimer’s disease within the brain.
The microfluidic system enables scientists to observe how microglia—the brain’s resident immune cells—react to small, toxic protein clusters known as amyloid‑beta oligomers (AβO), a hallmark of the disorder.
Under normal conditions, microglia clear AβO from neural tissue. In Alzheimer’s, however, they become hyper‑activated by these protein aggregates, releasing inflammatory molecules that damage nearby neurons.
On the chip, cultured microglial cells are exposed to flowing fluid inside a minuscule channel. This gentle flow tests their adhesion to the surface. When the cells encounter higher concentrations of AβO or prolonged exposure, their grip weakens, providing a physical indicator of disease progression.
The results appear in Microsystems & Nanoengineering.
Conventional methods for tracking Alzheimer’s usually involve “labels”—dyes or antibodies that must be attached to cells or proteins for detection. These processes are labor‑intensive, costly, and deliver only static images.
Conversely, the new chip is label‑free, low‑cost, and able to monitor cell behavior continuously. After a 24‑hour exposure to strong AβO levels, the immune cells completely lost adhesion, indicating a loss of viability.
This study shows how an inexpensive, portable platform can detect subtle changes in microglial behavior linked to Alzheimer’s, offering a valuable tool for diagnostics and pharmaceutical screening.
Authors include Ehsan Yazdanpanah Moghadam, Ph.D., Nahum Sonenberg (Biochemistry, McGill University), and Muthukumaran Packirisamy (Mechanical, Industrial & Aerospace Engineering, Gina Cody School of Engineering & Computer Science).