Neurotrophic factors are known to protect neuronal cell death in several neurodegenerative diseases, both in in vitro and in vivo. They play a key role in development, differentiation, synaptogenesis, and survival of neurons in the brain as well as in the process of their adaptation to external influences.  As such, they are essential growth factors in neuroprogenitor cell culture in vitro (Pluripotent stem cells). A sustained release of such factors in culture can be a challenge. Encapuslating them in polymer beads is an answer to this issue, as shown in this post introducing new StemBeads for BDNF and GDNF.

ELISAs are widely used in biomarker-related studies, especially when a high number of samples is involved, and only a few biomarkers need to be quantified. That said, incubations can be somehow cumbersome, and some days one would like to get results fast (and accurate), and this is not always possible.

Neurotrophins are important biomarkers in Neurobiology, including stem cell development to neural lineages. BDNF and NGF are the ones being studied in most cases. However, it has been found that neurotrophins do not act independently. Many publications have described the coordinated actions of 2 or more neurotrophins, especially in development, but also in the adult.

Neurobiology is the study of cells of the nervous system and their organization into functional circuits that process information and mediate behavior.