A system is provided for evaluating the function of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) of a subject, which includes a platform including first and second culture chambers separated by a gap portion; the platform supporting a microtissue culture including: human skeletal myoblasts derived from the subject in the first chamber; a neurosphere derived from the subject, expressing an optogenetic protein in the second chamber, and a hydrogel in the gap portion to allow axonal sprouting and growth between the myoblasts and neurosphere. A light source is provided for optical stimulation pulses applied to the microtissue culture for activation of the optogenetic protein; and image recordation device for capturing images of the culture in response to the optical stimulation.
SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR OPTOGENETIC EVALUATION OF HUMAN NEUROMUSCULAR FUNCTION