3D Cell Culture Systems for the Development of Neural Interfaces

Neural interface research and development covers a wide spectrum of topics, spanning basic neuroscience to design of implantable devices. In vitro studies have been an integral part of this research and form the basis of regulated preclinical studies. Historically, 2D cell cultures have provided substantial data on neural interfaces; however, these have inherent limitations. Critically, they do not recapitulate essential features of the in vivo environment, having limited cell–cell and cell–ECM interactions. This has driven the development of 3D cell culture models. Three approaches to 3D models are discussed, encompassing explant/ex vivo models, cell-only approaches, and biomaterials and scaffolds. Each approach offers advantages and limitations, which recommend them to specific applications. These issues are discussed with focus on their contributions to neural interface research.