Cell Culture Approach to Testing the Efficacy of ADHD Drugs in Children
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children. It is characterized by symptoms of difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with daily functioning.
The prevalence of ADHD in children is estimated to be 7.2% globally, making it a major focus of medical and pharmaceutical research.
In the treatment of ADHD, pharmacological therapy using psychostimulants such as methylphenidate and dexamphetamine is the mainstay. However, with the development of alternative therapies, methods are needed to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy, safety, and toxicity of drugs.
One approach that is gaining popularity is the use of cell cultures, which allow efficacy trials to be conducted in a more controlled and ethical manner.
Definition of Cell Culture in Drug Efficacy Testing
Cell culture is a laboratory technique in which living cells are taken from an organism (either human or animal) and maintained under artificial conditions for research.
In the context of drug efficacy testing, cell culture allows researchers to study cellular responses to a particular drug, such as changes in gene expression or protein activity. In addition, cell culture is used as a method to test the pharmacological potency of drugs at specific molecular targets.
For ADHD, this approach can be used to understand how drugs affect nerve cells (neurons) in the central nervous system, which are the primary target of ADHD therapy. In addition, cell culture can reduce reliance on animal testing, making it more ethical and cost-effective.
Principles of Cell Culture in Drug Efficacy Testing
The cell culture method in ADHD drug efficacy testing focuses on three main elements, namely the selection of cellular models, adjustment of the culture environment, and analysis of the results.
Cellular models are selected based on biological relevance to ADHD. Several types of cells that are often used are differentiated neurons from stem cells and primary cells from the brain cortex.
Cell culture is carried out in conditions that resemble the human body environment to ensure relevant results. Important elements used in cell culture are culture media containing nutrients, growth factors, and gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. Another element is the temperature which is usually at 37°C to resemble human body temperature. In addition, the use of Co-Culture is sometimes used to mimic the interaction between neurons and other cells, such as astrocytes.
In the efficacy test of ADHD therapeutic drugs using cell culture, the procedure is carried out through several main steps. Cells that have been cultured are exposed to certain drug concentrations to measure their biological response. One of the parameters observed is the activity of increasing the release of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and noradrenaline, which are relevant to the mechanism of action of ADHD drugs.
Molecular analysis is also needed to explore the effects of drugs at the genetic and protein levels. Techniques such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) are used to identify changes in gene expression, while Western Blot allows for more detailed observation of target proteins involved in controlling ADHD.
Molecular approaches provide a comprehensive understanding of drug efficacy and cellular impact, which forms the basis for the development of safer and more effective therapies.
Once results are obtained, validation is performed to ensure that the observed responses are relevant to human clinical conditions. This includes comparison with previous clinical data or results from animal models.
The Importance of Cell Culture in the Development of ADHD Therapies
The cell culture approach has a number of advantages that make it very important in ADHD research. One of its advantages is efficiency and speed, where cell culture tests can provide results in a relatively short time compared to clinical trials or animal trials. In addition, this method is more ethical because it eliminates the need for animal trials.
Cell culture also offers higher biological relevance by using human cellular models, so that the results are more reflective of the actual clinical condition. Advances in technology have even made it possible to use patient cells, such as through the technique of induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs), to develop personalized therapies according to individual needs.
This approach not only accelerates innovation in ADHD treatments but also supports the development of safer drugs, especially for children who tend to be more susceptible to side effects than adults.
Drug testing is one of the services at IML Research to support the distribution of drugs that are safe for public consumption. Efficacy testing is key to determining the effectiveness of the drug, one of which is through the cell culture approach. If you are a drug manufacturer, you can conduct laboratory tests at IML Research!
Author: Dherika
References
Chierrito, D., Villas-Boas, C.B., Fernanda, S.T., Fernando, F., Andreia, C.C.S., & Joao, C.P.d. (2019). Using Cell Cultures for the Investigation of Treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review. Current Neuropharmacology, 17: 916-925. Doi: 10.2174/1570159X17666190409143155.
Huber JM, Amann A, Koeck S, Lorenz E, Kelm JM, Obexer P, Zwierzina H, Gamerith G. (2016). Evaluation of assays for drug efficacy in a three-dimensional model of the lung. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 142(9):1955-66. Doi: 10.1007/s00432-016-2198-0.
SoHealthy. (n.d). History of Animal Cell Culture. Retrieved from https://scienceofhealthy.com/history-animal-cell-culture/ (Accessed: November 17th, 2024).
