Pharmacology and toxicology studies with in vitro biological systems allow researchers to evaluate how compounds modulate neuronal function and assess potential safety risks in a controlled, human-relevant context. In neuroscience and stem cell biology, this involves applying small molecules, biologics, or environmental agents to neuronal cultures or 3D models such as brain organoids or brain slices. Researchers can monitor changes in activity patterns, synaptic function, and network dynamics to determine efficacy, potency, or adverse effects. Functional readouts at the cellular and network levels are essential for understanding dose-response relationships, therapeutic windows, and compound-specific mechanisms of action, providing translational biomarkers and functional endpoints relevant in clinical trials. Combined with imaging, transcriptomics, and structural analysis, in vitro pharmacology and toxicology reveal how compounds affect neuronal health and function from single cells to networks.
MaxWell Biosystems’ HD-MEA platforms offer unmatched resolution and throughput for pharmacological and toxicological screening. By enabling label-free, high-content recordings from thousands of electrodes across multiwell formats, researchers can detect subtle functional changes, monitor compound effects over time, and compare responses across conditions or cell lines. This supports robust dose-response profiling, safety assessment, and mechanism-of-action studies, all within a scalable, automation-compatible platform designed for reproducibility and translational relevance.
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