FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ORLANDO, FL – October 24, 2024 – Hesperos, a leader in human-on-a-chip technology, has announced a breakthrough with the development of a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived model of peripheral myelination. Published in ACS Biomaterials, the work was done in collaboration with the University of Central Florida. This platform enables the study and development of treatments for currently incurable diseases affecting the peripheral nervous system, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorder, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).
Myelination, the process that insulates nerve fibers for rapid nerve impulse conduction, is essential for proper nervous system function. Disorders affecting peripheral myelination lead to progressive conditions such as muscle weakness and fatigue. Previous models, often reliant on animal systems, have had limited relevance for human diseases.
In this study, Hesperos researchers developed a co-culture model using iPSC-derived Schwann cells and motoneurons in serum-free medium. After 30 days, key features of myelination were observed, including myelin segments and node of Ranvier formation, both critical for nerve signal transmission. Advanced 3D confocal microscopy was used to measure g-ratios of myelin segments, a key indicator of myelin health.
"This iPSC-based model marks a significant step forward in our ability to study peripheral nervous system diseases," said J. Hickman, PhD, co-author and Hesperos Chief Scientist. "By using human cells in a controlled environment, we can investigate genetic disorders with greater translatability to human diseases, which supports both disease modeling and treatment development."
The development of this model is timely given the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 (soon to be 3.0), which aims to reduce reliance on animal testing and accelerate drug discovery with alternative methods. Hesperos' myelination model aligns with these goals, offering a cost-effective, highly translatable platform for studying peripheral nervous system diseases.
Hesperos, Inc.
Hesperos is a global contract research organization (CRO) specializing in drug development services with its Human-on-a-Chip® platform. By integrating multiple human organ systems into a single, interconnected model, Hesperos replicates human biology to understand diseases and therapeutic responses. This approach accelerates development, reduces animal testing, and brings safer, more effective treatments to patients.
Learn more at: hesperosinc.com
Click here for published Press Release
Research article: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.4c01431
