The glomerular filtration barrier (GFB) filters the blood to remove toxins while retaining high
molecular weight proteins in the circulation. The glomerular basement membrane (GBM)
and podocytes, highly specialized epithelial cells, are critical components of the filtration
barrier. The GBM serves as a physical barrier to passage of molecules into the filtrate.
Podocytes adhere to the filtrate side of the GBM and further restrict passage of high
molecular weight molecules into the filtrate. Here, a 3D cell culture model of the glomerular …

In article number 2002275 by Nicholas Ferrell and co-workers, a biomimetic tissue culture
model of the kidney filtration barrier is developed to evaluate molecular transport. The in
vitro filtration barrier model employs kidney-derived glomerular basement membrane to
replicate the in vivo microenvironment. The filtration barrier model exhibits molecular
selectivity and damage to the basement membrane increases molecular permeability.