In vitro or ex vivo method for determining the effect of a biological sample on a biological model using large-scale neural activity

An in vitro or ex vitro method for determining the effect of a biological sample on a biological model, the method including the following steps of:

• a. Providing a bioreceptor comprising a multi-compartment microfluidic device comprising:
• i) at least a first compartment and a second compartment;
• ii) at least one means forming a biological interface for enabling communication by neural connection between the first and second compartments;
• iii) the first compartment comprising at least the neuron culture in the form of a neural network and the second compartment comprising at least the neuron culture in the form of a neural network and/or the culture of non-neuronal cells or an explant culture;
• iv) at least one device enabling recording of the functional activity of the neurons over a plurality of measurement points spatially distributed in the first compartment;
• b. Directly or indirectly contacting the neurons and/or non-neuronal cells or the explant in culture in the second compartment with said biological sample;
• c. Carrying out a recording of the functional activity of the neurons in culture in the first compartment over the plurality of measurement points over a measurement duration following contacting according to step b);
• d. Carrying out a conversion of the record of the functional activity of the neurons in culture in the first compartment into functional activity data;
• e. Analyzing the functional activity data obtained in step d);
• f. Determining at least one characteristic parameter of the state of the neural network in the first compartment from the functional activity data;
• g. Carrying out a comparison between the at least one characteristic parameter of the state of the neural network and a reference value of at least one characteristic parameter of the state of the neural network in order to determine the effect of said biological sample.