Abstract
The modular-based multi-organ-on-a-chip enables more stable and flexible configuration to better mimic the complex biological phenomena for versatile biomedical applications. However, the existing magnetic-based interconnection modes are mainly realized by directly embedding and/or fixing magnets into the modular microfluidic devices for single use only, which will inevitably increase the complexity and cost during the manufacturing process. Here, we present a novel design of a reusable standardized universal interface module (RSUIM), which is highly suitable for generic organ-on-chip applications and their integration into multi-organ systems. Both pasting-based and clamping-based interconnection modes are developed in a plug-and-play manner without fluidic leakage. Furthermore, due to the flexibility of the modular design, it is simple to integrate multiple assembled modular devices through parallel configuration into a high throughput platform. To test its effectiveness, experiments on the construction of both the microvascular network and vascularized tumor model are performed by using the integration of the generic vascularized organ-on-a-chip module and pasting-based RSUIM, and their quantitative analysis results on the reproducibility and anti-cancer drug screening validation are further performed. We believe that this RSUIM design will become a standard and critical accessory for a broad range of organ-on-a-chip applications and is easy for commercialization with low cost.
Highlights
Human organ-on-a-chip systems have become useful and powerful tools for the integration of human cells/microtissues and hydrogels into microfluidic devices with multiple microphysiological environment controls to recapitulate the vivo-like 3D microstructures and specific-organ functions [1]
We have developed a reusable standardized universal interface module (RSUIM) with high flexibility, which is highly suitable for generic organ-on-a-chip applications and their integration into multi organ-on-a-chip systems
The whole size of the organ-on-a-chip module was determined by a customized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) frame, and the microfluidic chip was casted by pouring PDMS into it
Summary
Human organ-on-a-chip systems have become useful and powerful tools for the integration of human cells/microtissues and hydrogels into microfluidic devices with multiple microphysiological environment controls to recapitulate the vivo-like 3D microstructures and specific-organ functions [1]. The first is the single organ-on-a-chip with one type of specific tissue, such as lung-on-a-chip [4], gut-on-a-chip [5], liver-on-a-chip [6], heart-on-a-chip [7] It can be further divided into generic platforms for various types of tissues through a one-fits-all solution [4,5], as well as the specific-organ platforms with only one tissue type [7]. The second is the multi organ-on-a-chip by integrating multiple organs into one platform to represent the blood circulation and tissue-to-tissue communications, which can be further categorized into static, semi-static, and modular designs. Individual specific/generic single organ-on-a-chip can be integrated through interconnectors or tubings with high flexibility after their maturation at any given time, which enables the ECM loading and tissue culture separately and individually with the tissue-specific culture medium. Due to high temporal flexibility and redundancy capacity, the modular-based multi organ-on-a-chip design can lead to a more stable and viable configuration based on specific applications compared with both the static and semi-static designs [10]
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.