Microplatforms as a model for neurological conditions

Neural development is a continuous process where neural networks begin to form during the early embryological stages with further development and maturation occurring throughout childhood and adolescence. The nervous system is susceptible to various traumas and diseases, which lead to the destruction and deterioration of form and function. Studying the natural neural development as well as injury and disease conditions requires in vivo and in vitro models that recapitulate the various neural tissue conditions. The current approaches used for modeling the nervous system will be presented highlighting their advantages and limitations. Microfluidic systems and microplatforms will then be discussed and evaluated against traditional in vivo and in vitro models. Finally, the prospects of neurological disease model developments on microplatforms will be highlighted. This chapter thus provides an overview of the microplatforms currently used to study neural normal and disease/injury conditions.