brain ,systems

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the complex network of brain microvessels. It protects the brain from the external bloodstream environment and supplies the brain with the required nutrients for normal function. However, blood-brain barrier is also the obstacle to deliver beneficial drugs to treat CNS (central nervous system) diseases or brain tumors, as it has the least permeable capillaries in the entire body due to physical barriers (tight junctions). Therefore, it is crucial to discover drugs which can cross this barrier for the treatment of brain-based diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and epilepsy.

MCE offers a unique collection of 1,075 compounds with confirmed CNS-Penetrant property. It’s a useful tool for the discovery of drugs used for brain diseases, such as brain tumors, mental disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.

With the aging population and increasing competitive pressures, neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) have become a serious medical challenge in modern society, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, brain tumors, and multiple sclerosis. However, the success rate of CNS drug development remains remarkably low, primarily due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a semipermeable barrier structure that surrounds the microvasculature of the CNS. In capillaries, the wedged endothelial cells are tightly packed and wedge-shaped, lining the interior of the vessels to form extensive tight junctions. Along with a range of receptors, transporters, efflux pumps, and other cellular components, this barrier regulates the entry and exit of molecules between the bloodstream and the brain. The intact BBB blocks the passage of most blood-borne substances into the brain, preventing nearly 100% of large-molecule drugs and over 98% of small-molecule drugs from entering. Compared to non-CNS drugs, physicochemical properties such as hydrogen bonds, lipophilicity, and molecular weight significantly influence a compound's ability to cross the BBB. Using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to predict BBB permeability, a predicted value greater than 0.75 indicates that the compound has strong potential to cross the BBB, providing a promising starting point for CNS drug discovery.

Neuropeptides are small proteins produced and released by neurons through the regulation of secretory pathways, expressed in neurons and have transmitter or co-transmitter functions, and are used as nerve substrates. Neuropeptides are by far the largest and most diverse signaling molecules in the brain and have been implicated in the development of diseases and drugs. Neuropeptides are involved in inflammatory and immune diseases and have an impact on epithelial, vascular, and connective tissue cells proliferation and tissue repair. Studies have shown that neuropeptides are particularly important when the nervous system is challenged, such as stress, injury, or substance abuse. Substance P is a neuropeptide that acts as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in the central nervous system and is currently in clinical research and has been shown to be involved in inflammatory processes and pain.

MCE can provide 125 neuropeptides that can be used for scientific research.

The incidence and significance of central nervous system diseases are increasing at an alarming rate all over the world. Although substantial research efforts have been applied to develop new CNS-active drugs, only a few CNS disorders are addressed satisfactorily, while the remaining ones pose significant clinical challenges. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability is one of the most important limiting factors in the design and development of novel CNS-targeted pharmaceuticals for the treatment of neurological disorders.

Carefully selected from the HTS Compound Collection to meet the parameters optimized for high BBB-permeability, our CNS Focused Screening Library comprising over 30,300 structurally-diverse and potentially CNS-active screening compounds. This original Screening Compound Library is aimed at supporting CNS drug design projects and HTS efforts in search for novel neurotherapeutics.

Dopamine receptor (DAR), widely distributed in the brain, plays a key role in regulating motor function, motivation, driving force and cognition. The role of DA is mediated by D1-type (D1, D5) and D2-type receptors (D2S, D2L, D3, D4), which are distributed in presynaptic, postsynaptic and extrasynaptic, projection neurons and interneurons. Each receptor has a different function. D1 and D5 receptors couple with G stimulation sites and activate Adenylyl cyclase. The activation of Adenylyl cyclase leads to the production of the second messenger cAMP, which leads to the production of protein kinase A (PKA), which leads to further transcription in the nucleus. D2 to D4 receptors are coupled to G inhibitory sites to inhibit adenylyl cyclase and activate potassium Ion channel. These receptors utilize phosphorylation cascades or direct membrane interactions to affect the functions of voltage-gated and neurotransmitter-gated channels, cytoplasmic enzymes, and transcription factors. Dopamine receptor plays an important role in daily life.

MCE designs a unique collection of 263 small molecules related to dopamine receptor. It is a good tool for screening drugs from nervous system disease.

MCE Mouse Fetal Brain Organoid (Expansion) Kit contains Mouse Fetal Brain Organoid Expansion Basal Medium and Mouse Fetal Brain Organoid Expansion Culture Supplement . This kit enables the efficient in vitro generation of mouse fetal brain organoids (mFBs). Within this culture system, mouse fetal brain tissue can spontaneously form organoid structures that faithfully recapitulate key features of in vivo cellular heterogeneity and complex tissue organization.

MCE Human Brain Organoid (Expansion) Kit contains Human Brain Organoid Expansion Basal Medium and Human Brain Organoid Expansion Culture Supplements. This kit enables the efficient in vitro generation of human forebrain organoids (hFBs). Within this culture system, human brain tissue can spontaneously form organoid structures that faithfully recapitulate key features of in vivo cellular heterogeneity and complex tissue organization.

MCE Human iPSC-Derived Brain Organoid Long-term Culture Medium is a specialized culture system developed through systematic reformulation and concentration optimization based on neuronal cell culture platforms. It significantly enhances the adaptability and stability of long-term culture for brain organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

MCE Human iPSC/ESC Whole-Brain Organoid Induction Differentiation Kit is a non-region-specific brain organoid induction kit designed based on the neuroectoderm self-differentiation system. After 38 d of culture using this kit, the resulting whole-brain organoids stably express core neuronal markers such as TUJ1, SOX2, Nestin, and NeuN, as well as forebrain/cortical markers including FOXG1 and CTIP2.

MCE Human iPSC/ESC Cortical Brain Organoid Maturation Medium is a ready-to-use culture system specifically formulated for the long-term maintenance and maturation of cortical brain organoids. It serves as a seamless transition from the induction phase and supports the continued growth and functional development of the organoids. Upon switching PSC-derived cortical brain organoids to this medium, organoid viability and structural stability are markedly enhanced, enabling a robust and extended culture period of up to 180 d.

MCE Human iPSC/ESC Cortical Brain Organoid Induction Differentiation Kit is a standardized culture system specifically designed to recapitulate the developmental processes and functional features of the human cerebral cortex through forebrain ventralization-based signaling regulation. By sequentially activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and gradually inhibiting BMP/Smad signaling, this system efficiently drives human pluripotent stem cells (PSC) to differentiate into high-purity glutamatergic neurons (VGLUT1/2⁺ > 85%), while simultaneously promoting the formation of Pax6⁺/BLBP⁺ radial glial cells that establish a biomimetic ventricular-zone–like structure.

MCE ECM Gentle Dissociation Solution is a gentle ECM-degrading enzyme mixture derived from marine bacteria and Bacillus species, specifically formulated for efficient and low-damage digestion of in-vitro cell systems. It selectively degrades extracellular matrix components while minimizing disruption to the cell membrane and intercellular junctions, thereby significantly reducing mechanical stress during dissociation. This product is compatible with a wide range of cell types, including stem cell colonies, primary cells, neural cells, and organoids, and is particularly well suited for gentle yet effective dissociation of brain organoids and other complex 3D structures.