Data source of Microphysiological engineering of the capillary interface of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons to study vascular alterations in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease involves not only α-synuclein pathology but also significant vascular dysfunction that traditional models fail to capture. Using organ-on-a-chip technology and vasculogenic self-assembly, we created a midbrain model that mimics the capillary interface of dopaminergic neurons and blood vessel networks. When exposed to PD-associated α-synuclein fibrils, the system reproduced key disease features, including protein aggregation, inflammation, neurodegeneration, and progressive vascular impairment. This platform provides a powerful tool for studying how neuronal and vascular pathology interact in PD and for developing therapies that address both the neuronal and vascular components of PD pathology.