Co-Culture Model Development
Specializing in the development of physiologically relevant 2D and 3D co-culture models, Protheragen is committed to expediting the therapeutic development for rare neurological disorders. Our patient-based and genetically engineered model systems are able to recapitulate complex disease mechanisms. These platforms have undergone comprehensive validation and adhere to ethical/regulatory standards, thus bridging the gap between in vitro data and clinical translation.
Introduction to Co-Culture Models
Co-culture models represent a transformative approach to biomedical research, enabling the study of cell-cell interactions in a controlled microenvironment that mimics physiological conditions. Unlike monoculture systems, co-cultures integrate multiple cell types, such as neurons, glial cells, and endothelial cells, to replicate the complex cellular interactions observed in vivo.
Fig.1 2D co-culture systems for glioma. (Niu X, et al., 2024)
Application of Co-Culture Models
Co-culture models are powerful tools for studying rare neurological diseases, enabling the study of complex cell-cell interactions and disease mechanisms in a controlled in vitro environment. By combining patient-derived neurons with glial cells or other relevant cell types, these models are able to recapitulate key pathological features such as neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, and protein aggregation, thereby facilitating personalized drug screening, toxicity testing, and mechanistic studies.
- Disease Mechanism Research
- Drug Discovery & Development
- Preclinical Safety & Efficacy Testing
- Biomarker Discovery
- Personalized Medicine
- Regenerative Medicine
Our Services
Through cutting-edge co-culture model development, Protheragen expedites therapeutic advancements for rare motor neuron diseases (MND) and neurological disorders. The physiologically relevant 2D and 3D co-culture systems mimic intricate cellular interactions underlying disease progression, offering dependable backing for preclinical research like target validation, drug screening, and toxicity testing.
2D Co-Culture Model Development
2D co-culture models involve growing multiple cell types in monolayer systems to study direct cell-cell interactions or paracrine signaling. These models are constructed using either direct co-culturing (cells seeded together in wells) or indirect methods (cells separated by transwell membranes), providing a simple yet effective platform for high-throughput drug screening and mechanistic studies of neurological diseases.
- Motor Neuron-Astrocyte Co-Cultures
- Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Models
- Motor Neuron-Oligodendrocyte Co-Cultures
- Neuron-Microglia Co-Cultures
- Schwann Cell-Neuron Co-Cultures
- More
3D Co-Culture Model Development
3D co-culture models recreate complex tissue microenvironments by culturing cells in three-dimensional structures. They are built using techniques such as spheroid formation, hydrogel embedding, bioprinting, or microfluidic organ-on-chip systems, enabling more physiologically relevant studies of cell-matrix interactions and long-term disease progression in neurodegenerative and movement disorders.
- Myelinating Spheroids
- Bioprinted Neurovascular Units
- Neuroimmune Interaction Models
- Tumor Microenvironment Models
- Neuromuscular Junction (NMJ) Chips
- More
Workflow of Co-Culture Model Development
Project Scoping & Experimental Design
We collaborate with clients to define disease-specific requirements, selecting optimal cell combinations (e.g., neuron-microglia-astrocyte) and experimental endpoints, ensuring the co-culture system addresses key mechanistic questions.
Cell Sourcing & Validation
Primary cells, iPSC-derived lines, or engineered cell lines are rigorously validated for purity and functionality to ensure disease-relevant baselines.
System Assembly & Optimization
Custom configurations (2D/3D, microfluidics) are tested for cell-cell interaction dynamics, with media, seeding ratios, and spatial arrangements optimized to mimic in vivo microenvironments.
Functional Phenotyping
Quantitative assays measure cell-type-specific responses: synaptic pruning by microglia, metabolic coupling via astrocytes, or myelin wrapping by oligodendrocytes, using live imaging and single-cell resolution tools.
Pharmacological Validation
Compounds are evaluated for cell-selective effects through multiplexed readouts (viability, phagocytosis, electrophysiology).
Data Integration & Reporting
High-dimensional datasets (transcriptomics, functional imaging) are analyzed with network modeling to decode crosstalk mechanisms, delivered with standardized protocols and actionable insights.
Protheragen's patient-derived co-culture models are developed under strict ethical guidelines using consented and fully traceable donor samples, ensuring regulatory compliance for global preclinical studies. These models provide a standardized and biologically relevant platform for comprehensive pharmacodynamic (PD) analysis, pharmacokinetic (PK) studies, and high-resolution toxicology assessments. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us for more details and quotation information of related services.
Reference
- Niu X, Zhang Y, Wang Y. Co-culture models for investigating cellular crosstalk in the glioma microenvironment[J]. Cancer Pathogenesis and Therapy, 2024, 2(04): 219-230.