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Ugodnikov A, Persson H, Simmons CA. Bridging barriers: advances and challenges in modeling biological barriers and measuring barrier integrity in organ-on-chip systems. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:3199-3225. [PMID: 38689569 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc01027a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Biological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier, skin, and intestinal mucosal barrier play key roles in homeostasis, disease physiology, and drug delivery - as such, it is important to create representative in vitro models to improve understanding of barrier biology and serve as tools for therapeutic development. Microfluidic cell culture and organ-on-a-chip (OOC) systems enable barrier modelling with greater physiological fidelity than conventional platforms by mimicking key environmental aspects such as fluid shear, accurate microscale dimensions, mechanical cues, extracellular matrix, and geometrically defined co-culture. As the prevalence of barrier-on-chip models increases, so does the importance of tools that can accurately assess barrier integrity and function without disturbing the carefully engineered microenvironment. In this review, we first provide a background on biological barriers and the physiological features that are emulated through in vitro barrier models. Then, we outline molecular permeability and electrical sensing barrier integrity assessment methods, and the related challenges specific to barrier-on-chip implementation. Finally, we discuss future directions in the field, as well important priorities to consider such as fabrication costs, standardization, and bridging gaps between disciplines and stakeholders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa Ugodnikov
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada.
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Henrik Persson
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada.
| | - Craig A Simmons
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada.
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada
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2
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Way R, Templeton H, Ball D, Cheng MH, Tobet SA, Chen T. A Microphysiological System for Studying Barrier Health of Live Tissues in Real Time. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4078220. [PMID: 38659839 PMCID: PMC11042443 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4078220/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Epithelial cells create barriers that protect many different components in the body from their external environment. The gut in particular carries bacteria and other infectious agents. A healthy gut epithelial barrier prevents unwanted substances from accessing the underlying lamina propria while maintaining the ability to digest and absorb nutrients. Increased gut barrier permeability, better known as leaky gut, has been linked to several chronic inflammatory diseases. Yet understanding the cause of leaky gut and developing effective interventions are still elusive due to the lack of tools to maintain tissue's physiological environment while elucidating cellular functions under various stimuli ex vivo. This paper presents a microphysiological system capable of recording real-time barrier permeability of mouse gut tissues in a realistic physiological environment over extended durations. Key components of the microphysiological system include a microfluidic chamber designed to hold the live tissue explant and create a sufficient microphysiological environment to maintain tissue viability; proper media composition that preserves a microbiome and creates necessary oxygen gradients across the barrier; integrated sensor electrodes and supporting electronics for acquiring and calculating transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER); and a scalable system architecture to allow multiple chambers running in parallel for increased throughput. The experimental results demonstrate that the system can maintain tissue viability for up to 72 hours. The results also show that the custom-built and integrated TEER sensors are sufficiently sensitive to distinguish differing levels of barrier permeability when treated with collagenase and low pH media compared to control. Permeability variations in tissue explants from different positions in the intestinal tract were also investigated using TEER revealing their disparities in permeability. Finally, the results also quantitatively determine the effect of the muscle layer on total epithelial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Way
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Hayley Templeton
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Daniel Ball
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Ming-Hao Cheng
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Stuart A Tobet
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Thomas Chen
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Graybill PM, Jacobs EJ, Jana A, Agashe A, Nain AS, Davalos RV. Ultra-thin and ultra-porous nanofiber networks as a basement-membrane mimic. LAB ON A CHIP 2023; 23:4565-4578. [PMID: 37772328 PMCID: PMC10623910 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00304c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Current basement membrane (BM) mimics used for modeling endothelial and epithelial barriers in vitro do not faithfully recapitulate key in vivo physiological properties such as BM thickness, porosity, stiffness, and fibrous composition. Here, we use networks of precisely arranged nanofibers to form ultra-thin (∼3 μm thick) and ultra-porous (∼90%) BM mimics for blood-brain barrier modeling. We show that these nanofiber networks enable close contact between endothelial monolayers and pericytes across the membrane, which are known to regulate barrier tightness. Cytoskeletal staining and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements reveal barrier formation on nanofiber membranes integrated within microfluidic devices and transwell inserts. Further, significantly higher TEER values indicate a biological benefit for co-cultures formed on the ultra-thin nanofiber membranes. Our BM mimic overcomes critical technological challenges in forming co-cultures that are in proximity and facilitate cell-cell contact, while still being constrained to their respective sides. We anticipate that our nanofiber networks will find applications in drug discovery, cell migration, and barrier dysfunction studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip M Graybill
- Bioelectromechanical Systems Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Edward J Jacobs
- Bioelectromechanical Systems Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Aniket Jana
- Spinneret-Based Tunable Engineering Parameters (STEP) Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Atharva Agashe
- Spinneret-Based Tunable Engineering Parameters (STEP) Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Amrinder S Nain
- Spinneret-Based Tunable Engineering Parameters (STEP) Lab, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Rafael V Davalos
- Bioelectromechanical Systems Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
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4
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Kawakita S, Li S, Nguyen HT, Maity S, Haghniaz R, Bahari J, Yu N, Mandal K, Bandaru P, Mou L, Ermis M, Khalil E, Khosravi S, Peirsman A, Nasiri R, Adachi A, Nakayama A, Bell R, Zhu Y, Jucaud V, Dokmeci MR, Khademhosseini A. Rapid integration of screen-printed electrodes into thermoplastic organ-on-a-chip devices for real-time monitoring of trans-endothelial electrical resistance. Biomed Microdevices 2023; 25:37. [PMID: 37740819 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-023-00669-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) is one of the most widely used indicators to quantify the barrier integrity of endothelial layers. Over the last decade, the integration of TEER sensors into organ-on-a-chip (OOC) platforms has gained increasing interest for its efficient and effective measurement of TEER in OOCs. To date, microfabricated electrodes or direct insertion of wires has been used to integrate TEER sensors into OOCs, with each method having advantages and disadvantages. In this study, we developed a TEER-SPE chip consisting of carbon-based screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) embedded in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based multi-layered microfluidic device with a porous poly(ethylene terephthalate) membrane in-between. As proof of concept, we demonstrated the successful cultures of hCMEC/D3 cells and the formation of confluent monolayers in the TEER-SPE chip and obtained TEER measurements for 4 days. Additionally, the TEER-SPE chip could detect changes in the barrier integrity due to shear stress or an inflammatory cytokine (i.e., tumor necrosis factor-α). The novel approach enables a low-cost and facile fabrication of carbon-based SPEs on PMMA substrates and the subsequent assembly of PMMA layers for rapid prototyping. Being cost-effective and cleanroom-free, our method lowers the existing logistical and technical barriers presenting itself as another step forward to the broader adoption of OOCs with TEER measurement capability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Kawakita
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
| | - Shaopei Li
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
| | - Huu Tuan Nguyen
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
| | - Surjendu Maity
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
| | - Reihaneh Haghniaz
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
| | - Jamal Bahari
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
| | - Ning Yu
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California-Riverside, Riverside, California, 92521, USA
| | - Kalpana Mandal
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
| | - Praveen Bandaru
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
| | - Lei Mou
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
| | - Menekse Ermis
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
| | - Enam Khalil
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Safoora Khosravi
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Arne Peirsman
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
- Department of Plastic, Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery and Laboratory of Experimental Cancer Research, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rohollah Nasiri
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
- Division of Nanobiotechnology, Department of Protein Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 17165, Solna, Sweden
| | - Annie Adachi
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, 94158, USA
| | - Aya Nakayama
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, 91125, USA
| | - Remy Bell
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA
| | - Yangzhi Zhu
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA
| | - Vadim Jucaud
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA.
| | - Mehmet Remzi Dokmeci
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA.
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, California, 90064, USA.
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Karakocak BB, Keshavan S, Gunasingam G, Angeloni S, Auderset A, Petri-Fink A, Rothen-Rutishauser B. Rethinking of TEER measurement reporting for epithelial cells grown on permeable inserts. Eur J Pharm Sci 2023; 188:106511. [PMID: 37385303 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measures electrical resistance across epithelial tissue barriers involving confluent layer(s) of cells. TEER values act as a prerequisite for determining the barrier integrity of cells, which play a key role in evaluating the transport of drugs, materials or chemicals of interest across an epithelial barrier. The measurements can be performed non-invasively by measuring ohmic resistance across a defined area. Thus, the TEER values are reported in Ω·cm2. In vitro epithelial models are typically assembled on semi-permeable inserts providing two-chamber compartments, and the majority of the studies use inserts with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) membranes. Recently, new inserts with different membrane types and properties have been introduced. However, the TEER values presented so far did not allow a direct comparison. This study presents the characterization of selected epithelial tissues, i.e., lung, retina, and intestine, grown on an ultra-thin ceramic microporous permeable insert (SiMPLI) and PET membranes with different properties, i.e., thickness, material, and pore numbers. We verified the epithelial cell growth on both inserts via phase-contrast and confocal laser scanning microscope imaging. Barrier characteristics were assessed by TEER measurements and also by evaluating the permeability of fluorescein isothiocyanate through cell layers. The findings indicated that background TEER value calculations and the available surface area for cell growth must be thoroughly assessed when new inserts are introduced, as the values cannot be directly compared without re-calculations. Finally, we proposed electrical circuit models highlighting the contributors to TEER recordings on PET and SiMPLI insert membranes. This study paves the way for making the ohmic-based evaluation of epithelial tissues' permeability independent of the material and geometry of the insert membrane used for cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bedia Begum Karakocak
- BioNanomaterials Group, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Sandeep Keshavan
- BioNanomaterials Group, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Gowsinth Gunasingam
- BioNanomaterials Group, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Angeloni
- SiMPLInext SA, Rue Fritz-Oppliger 18, 2504 Biel/Bienne, Switzerland
| | - Adrian Auderset
- Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne, Aarbergstrasse 46, 2503 Biel/Bienne, Switzerland
| | - Alke Petri-Fink
- BioNanomaterials Group, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 9, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Rothen-Rutishauser
- BioNanomaterials Group, Adolphe Merkle Institute, University of Fribourg, Chemin des Verdiers 4, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland.
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Li Y, Xu M, Zhu Z, Xu F, Chen B. Transendothelial electrical resistance measurement by a microfluidic device for functional study of endothelial barriers in inflammatory bowel disease. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1236610. [PMID: 37520295 PMCID: PMC10375910 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1236610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing and remitting disease with a rising incidence globally. Circulating exosomes play great roles in IBD pathogenesis through exosomal cargoes, especially impacting the function of endothelial barriers. Transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurement is a widely used non-invasive and label-free strategy to monitor endothelial barrier function in vitro. This study established a well-designed microfluidic device to monitor the TEER changes of endothelial cellular barrier on-chip after treated with exosome derived from IBD serum. Methods: The chip comprised two layers of microfluidic chambers with top layer for the perfusion of medium to maintain the nutrition and pressure during cell culture, and bottom layer for the extracellular matrix mimic using hydrogel, which are separated by a semipermeable membrane that permitted the formation of endothelial cell barrier. Four electrodes independent from the outlets were integrated to the chip for TEER detection. In vivo mouse models mouse models and proteome profiling were performed to finding relevant regulators. Results: With this platform, significant decrease of TEER was detected, indicating that IBD serum exosome impact the endothelial cellular barrier on-chip. In vivo mouse models, IBD serum exosome treated group showed great higher DAI scores, shorter colons, more severe histological features, and higher levers of S100A8 expression, promoting the disease progress. Proteome profiling showed that TFRC and ANXA5 have great potentials as novel regulators in IBD. Discussion: This in-house customized microfluidic chip emulates the endothelial barrier microenvironment and enables the TEER monitoring, and can be used to investigate endothelial barrier function in vitro. IBD serum exosome promote the severity of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Min Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhu Zhu
- Department of Biological Sample Bank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bing Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Nazari H, Shrestha J, Naei VY, Bazaz SR, Sabbagh M, Thiery JP, Warkiani ME. Advances in TEER measurements of biological barriers in microphysiological systems. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 234:115355. [PMID: 37159988 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Biological barriers are multicellular structures that precisely regulate the transport of ions, biomolecules, drugs, cells, and other organisms. Transendothelial/epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) is a label-free method for predicting the properties of biological barriers. Understanding the mechanisms that control TEER significantly enhances our knowledge of the physiopathology of different diseases and aids in the development of new drugs. Measuring TEER values within microphysiological systems called organ-on-a-chip devices that simulate the microenvironment, architecture, and physiology of biological barriers in the body provides valuable insight into the behavior of barriers in response to different drugs and pathogens. These integrated systems should increase the accuracy, reproducibility, sensitivity, resolution, high throughput, speed, cost-effectiveness, and reliable predictability of TEER measurements. Implementing advanced micro and nanoscale manufacturing techniques, surface modification methods, biomaterials, biosensors, electronics, and stem cell biology is necessary for integrating TEER measuring systems with organ-on-chip technology. This review focuses on the applications, advantages, and future perspectives of integrating organ-on-a-chip technology with TEER measurement methods for studying biological barriers. After briefly reviewing the role of TEER in the physiology and pathology of barriers, standard techniques for measuring TEER, including Ohm's law and impedance spectroscopy, and commercially available devices are described. Furthermore, advances in TEER measurement are discussed in multiple barrier-on-a-chip system models representing different organs. Finally, we outline future trends in implementing advanced technologies to design and fabricate nanostructured electrodes, complicated microfluidic chips, and membranes for more advanced and accurate TEER measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hojjatollah Nazari
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, 2007, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jesus Shrestha
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, 2007, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Vahid Yaghoubi Naei
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, 2007, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sajad Razavi Bazaz
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, 2007, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Milad Sabbagh
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, 2007, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Majid Ebrahimi Warkiani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, 2007, New South Wales, Australia; Institute of Molecular Medicine, Sechenov University, 119991, Moscow, Russia.
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Monteduro AG, Rizzato S, Caragnano G, Trapani A, Giannelli G, Maruccio G. Organs-on-chips technologies – A guide from disease models to opportunities for drug development. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 231:115271. [PMID: 37060819 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Current in-vitro 2D cultures and animal models present severe limitations in recapitulating human physiopathology with striking discrepancies in estimating drug efficacy and side effects when compared to human trials. For these reasons, microphysiological systems, organ-on-chip and multiorgans microdevices attracted considerable attention as novel tools for high-throughput and high-content research to achieve an improved understanding of diseases and to accelerate the drug development process towards more precise and eventually personalized standards. This review takes the form of a guide on this fast-growing field, providing useful introduction to major themes and indications for further readings. We start analyzing Organs-on-chips (OOC) technologies for testing the major drug administration routes: (1) oral/rectal route by intestine-on-a-chip, (2) inhalation by lung-on-a-chip, (3) transdermal by skin-on-a-chip and (4) intravenous through vascularization models, considering how drugs penetrate in the bloodstream and are conveyed to their targets. Then, we focus on OOC models for (other) specific organs and diseases: (1) neurodegenerative diseases with brain models and blood brain barriers, (2) tumor models including their vascularization, organoids/spheroids, engineering and screening of antitumor drugs, (3) liver/kidney on chips and multiorgan models for gastrointestinal diseases and metabolic assessment of drugs and (4) biomechanical systems recapitulating heart, muscles and bones structures and related diseases. Successively, we discuss technologies and materials for organ on chips, analyzing (1) microfluidic tools for organs-on-chips, (2) sensor integration for real-time monitoring, (3) materials and (4) cell lines for organs on chips. (Nano)delivery approaches for therapeutics and their on chip assessment are also described. Finally, we conclude with a critical discussion on current significance/relevance, trends, limitations, challenges and future prospects in terms of revolutionary impact on biomedical research, preclinical models and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Grazia Monteduro
- Omnics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Physics "Ennio De Giorgi", University of Salento and Institute of Nanotechnology, CNR-Nanotec and INFN Sezione di Lecce, Via per Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Silvia Rizzato
- Omnics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Physics "Ennio De Giorgi", University of Salento and Institute of Nanotechnology, CNR-Nanotec and INFN Sezione di Lecce, Via per Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Giusi Caragnano
- Omnics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Physics "Ennio De Giorgi", University of Salento and Institute of Nanotechnology, CNR-Nanotec and INFN Sezione di Lecce, Via per Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Adriana Trapani
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- National Institute of Gastroenterology IRCCS "Saverio de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Maruccio
- Omnics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Physics "Ennio De Giorgi", University of Salento and Institute of Nanotechnology, CNR-Nanotec and INFN Sezione di Lecce, Via per Monteroni, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
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A Preliminary Experimental Study of Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-To-PDMS Bonding Using Oxygen Plasma Treatment Incorporating Isopropyl Alcohol. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15041006. [PMID: 36850290 PMCID: PMC9958961 DOI: 10.3390/polym15041006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a widely used material for soft lithography and microfabrication. PDMS exhibits some promising properties suitable for building microfluidic devices; however, bonding PDMS to PDMS and PDMS to other materials for multilayer structures in microfluidic devices is still challenging due to the hydrophobic nature of the surface of PDMS. This paper presents a simple yet effective method to increase the bonding strength for PDMS-to-PDMS using isopropyl alcohol (IPA). The experiment was carried out to evaluate the bonding strength for both the natural-cured and the heat-cured PDMS layer. The results show the effectiveness of our approach in terms of the improved irreversible bonding strength, up to 3.060 MPa, for the natural-cured PDMS and 1.373 MPa for the heat-cured PDMS, while the best bonding strength with the existing method in literature is 1.9 MPa. The work is preliminary because the underlying mechanism is only speculative and open for future research.
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Shinde A, Illath K, Kasiviswanathan U, Nagabooshanam S, Gupta P, Dey K, Chakrabarty P, Nagai M, Rao S, Kar S, Santra TS. Recent Advances of Biosensor-Integrated Organ-on-a-Chip Technologies for Diagnostics and Therapeutics. Anal Chem 2023; 95:3121-3146. [PMID: 36716428 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini Shinde
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Kavitha Illath
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Uvanesh Kasiviswanathan
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Shalini Nagabooshanam
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Pallavi Gupta
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Koyel Dey
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Pulasta Chakrabarty
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Moeto Nagai
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Toyohashi 441-8580, Japan
| | - Suresh Rao
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
| | - Srabani Kar
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh 517507, India
| | - Tuhin Subhra Santra
- Department of Engineering Design, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, India
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11
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Liu J, Zhao W, Qin M, Luan X, Li Y, Zhao Y, Huang C, Zhang L, Li M. Real-time measurement of the trans-epithelial electrical resistance in an organ-on-a-chip during cell proliferation. Analyst 2023; 148:516-524. [PMID: 36625356 DOI: 10.1039/d2an01931k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) is widely used to quantitatively evaluate cellular barrier function at the organ level in vitro. The measurement of the TEER in organ-on-chips (organ chips) plays a significant role in medical and pharmacological research. However, due to the limitation of the electrical equivalent model for organ chips, the existing TEER measurements usually neglect the changes of the TEER during cell proliferation, resulting in the low accuracy of the measurements. Here, we proposed a new whole-region model of the TEER and developed a real-time TEER measurement system that contains an organ chip with a plate electrode. A whole region circuit model considering the impedance of the non-cell covered region was also established, which enables TEER measurements to be independent of the changes in the cell covered region. The impedance of the non-cell covered region is here attributed to the resistance of the porous membrane. By combining the real-time measurement system and the whole region model, subtle changes in cellular activity during the proliferation stage were measured continuously every 6 minutes and a more sensitive TEER response was obtained. Furthermore, the TEER measurement accuracy was also verified by the real-time measurement of the TEER with stimulation using the permeability enhancer ethylene glycol-bis(2-aminoethylether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). The obtained results indicated that the new proposed whole region model and the real-time measurement system have higher accuracy and greater sensitivity than the traditional model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinlong Liu
- Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjie Zhao
- Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Meiyan Qin
- Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofeng Luan
- Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuang Li
- Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengjun Huang
- Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingqian Zhang
- Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
| | - Mingxiao Li
- Institute of Microelectronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
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12
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A Live Cell Imaging Microfluidic Model for Studying Extravasation of Bloodborne Bacterial Pathogens. Cell Microbiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/3130361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria that migrate (extravasate) out of the bloodstream during vascular dissemination can cause secondary infections in many tissues and organs, including the brain, heart, liver, joints, and bone with clinically serious and sometimes fatal outcomes. The mechanisms by which bacteria extravasate through endothelial barriers in the face of blood flow-induced shear stress are poorly understood, in part because individual bacteria are rarely observed traversing endothelia in vivo, and in vitro model systems inadequately mimic the vascular environment. To enable the study of bacterial extravasation mechanisms, we developed a transmembrane microfluidics device mimicking human blood vessels. Fast, quantitative, three-dimensional live cell imaging in this system permitted single-cell resolution measurement of the Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi transmigrating through monolayers of primary human endothelial cells under physiological shear stress. This cost-effective, flexible method was 10,000 times more sensitive than conventional plate reader-based methods for measuring transendothelial migration. Validation studies confirmed that B. burgdorferi transmigrate actively and strikingly do so at similar rates under static and physiological flow conditions. This method has significant potential for future studies of B. burgdorferi extravasation mechanisms, as well as the transendothelial migration mechanisms of other disseminating bloodborne pathogens.
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13
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Wang D, Gust M, Ferrell N. Kidney-on-a-Chip: Mechanical Stimulation and Sensor Integration. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:6889. [PMID: 36146238 PMCID: PMC9503911 DOI: 10.3390/s22186889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bioengineered in vitro models of the kidney offer unprecedented opportunities to better mimic the in vivo microenvironment. Kidney-on-a-chip technology reproduces 2D or 3D features which can replicate features of the tissue architecture, composition, and dynamic mechanical forces experienced by cells in vivo. Kidney cells are exposed to mechanical stimuli such as substrate stiffness, shear stress, compression, and stretch, which regulate multiple cellular functions. Incorporating mechanical stimuli in kidney-on-a-chip is critically important for recapitulating the physiological or pathological microenvironment. This review will explore approaches to applying mechanical stimuli to different cell types using kidney-on-a-chip models and how these systems are used to study kidney physiology, model disease, and screen for drug toxicity. We further discuss sensor integration into kidney-on-a-chip for monitoring cellular responses to mechanical or other pathological stimuli. We discuss the advantages, limitations, and challenges associated with incorporating mechanical stimuli in kidney-on-a-chip models for a variety of applications. Overall, this review aims to highlight the importance of mechanical stimuli and sensor integration in the design and implementation of kidney-on-a-chip devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Matthew Gust
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Nicholas Ferrell
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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14
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Kawakita S, Mandal K, Mou L, Mecwan MM, Zhu Y, Li S, Sharma S, Hernandez AL, Nguyen HT, Maity S, de Barros NR, Nakayama A, Bandaru P, Ahadian S, Kim HJ, Herculano RD, Holler E, Jucaud V, Dokmeci MR, Khademhosseini A. Organ-On-A-Chip Models of the Blood-Brain Barrier: Recent Advances and Future Prospects. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2201401. [PMID: 35978444 PMCID: PMC9529899 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202201401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The human brain and central nervous system (CNS) present unique challenges in drug development for neurological diseases. One major obstacle is the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which hampers the effective delivery of therapeutic molecules into the brain while protecting it from blood-born neurotoxic substances and maintaining CNS homeostasis. For BBB research, traditional in vitro models rely upon Petri dishes or Transwell systems. However, these static models lack essential microenvironmental factors such as shear stress and proper cell-cell interactions. To this end, organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technology has emerged as a new in vitro modeling approach to better recapitulate the highly dynamic in vivo human brain microenvironment so-called the neural vascular unit (NVU). Such BBB-on-a-chip models have made substantial progress over the last decade, and concurrently there has been increasing interest in modeling various neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease using OoC technology. In addition, with recent advances in other scientific technologies, several new opportunities to improve the BBB-on-a-chip platform via multidisciplinary approaches are available. In this review, an overview of the NVU and OoC technology is provided, recent progress and applications of BBB-on-a-chip for personalized medicine and drug discovery are discussed, and current challenges and future directions are delineated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Kawakita
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Kalpana Mandal
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Lei Mou
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou Medical University, No. 63 Duobao Road, Liwan District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510150, P. R. China
| | | | - Yangzhi Zhu
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Shaopei Li
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Saurabh Sharma
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | | | - Huu Tuan Nguyen
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Surjendu Maity
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | | | - Aya Nakayama
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Praveen Bandaru
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Samad Ahadian
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Han-Jun Kim
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Rondinelli Donizetti Herculano
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
- Department of Bioprocess and Biotechnology Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Araraquara, SP, 14801-902, Brazil
| | - Eggehard Holler
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | - Vadim Jucaud
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
| | | | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles, CA, 90064, USA
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15
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Zou L, Zhang Z, Chen J, Yang X, Li Y, Tang J, Du X, Tang L, Liang D, Zhu X, Feng J, Ding W. β-Cyclodextrin-Grafted Chitosan Enhances Intestinal Drug Absorption and Its Preliminary Mechanism Exploration. AAPS PharmSciTech 2022; 23:221. [PMID: 35948815 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-022-02380-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
β-Cyclodextrin (CD) and chitosan (CS) have attracted great attention due to their unique properties and structures. β-Cyclodextrin-grafted chitosan (CD-CS) has been widely used as a drug carrier to prepare nano-formulations for drug delivery. However, few researches have been conducted to investigate the effect of CD-CS as an excipient on cellular uptake and intestinal absorption. Herein, Caco-2 cells were used to investigate the influence of CD-CS on cellular uptake. The MTT assay showed that CD-CS was non-toxic to Caco-2 cells in concentrations ranging from 15.62 to 125 μg/mL. Confocal laser microscopy and flow cytometry measurements indicated that the uptake ability of Caco-2 cells was significantly enhanced after being treated with CD-CS at a concentration of 31.25 μg/mL or incubation for 0.5 h, and the uptake enhancement gradually increased with increasing CD-CS concentration and incubation time. The Caco-2 monolayer cell model and the everted intestinal sac method were employed to preliminarily explore the mechanism of the improved intestinal absorption. The results demonstrated that CD-CS might open the tight junctions and enhance the clathrin-dependent endocytosis, macro-pinocytosis, and phagocytosis of the intestinal epithelial cells. Such findings can serve as references and inspiration for the design of absorption enhancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linghui Zou
- College of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Zhongbin Zhang
- College of Basic Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Jinqing Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Xu Yang
- College of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Yuyang Li
- College of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Jing Tang
- College of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaolu Du
- College of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Ling Tang
- College of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Dan Liang
- College of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China.,Key Laboratory of Common Technology of Chinese Medicine Preparations, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaoyong Zhu
- College of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Jianfang Feng
- College of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China.,Key Laboratory of Common Technology of Chinese Medicine Preparations, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China.,South China Branch of National Engineering Research Center for Manufacturing Technology of Traditional Chinese Medicine Solid Preparation, Nanning, China
| | - Wenya Ding
- College of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China. .,Key Laboratory of Common Technology of Chinese Medicine Preparations, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China. .,South China Branch of National Engineering Research Center for Manufacturing Technology of Traditional Chinese Medicine Solid Preparation, Nanning, China.
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16
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Jain P, Rauer SB, Möller M, Singh S. Mimicking the Natural Basement Membrane for Advanced Tissue Engineering. Biomacromolecules 2022; 23:3081-3103. [PMID: 35839343 PMCID: PMC9364315 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Advancements in the field of tissue engineering have
led to the
elucidation of physical and chemical characteristics of physiological
basement membranes (BM) as specialized forms of the extracellular
matrix. Efforts to recapitulate the intricate structure and biological
composition of the BM have encountered various advancements due to
its impact on cell fate, function, and regulation. More attention
has been paid to synthesizing biocompatible and biofunctional fibrillar
scaffolds that closely mimic the natural BM. Specific modifications
in biomimetic BM have paved the way for the development of in vitro models like alveolar-capillary barrier, airway
models, skin, blood-brain barrier, kidney barrier, and metastatic
models, which can be used for personalized drug screening, understanding
physiological and pathological pathways, and tissue implants. In this
Review, we focus on the structure, composition, and functions of in vivo BM and the ongoing efforts to mimic it synthetically.
Light has been shed on the advantages and limitations of various forms
of biomimetic BM scaffolds including porous polymeric membranes, hydrogels,
and electrospun membranes This Review further elaborates and justifies
the significance of BM mimics in tissue engineering, in particular
in the development of in vitro organ model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Puja Jain
- DWI-Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | | | - Martin Möller
- DWI-Leibniz-Institute for Interactive Materials e.V, Aachen 52074, Germany
| | - Smriti Singh
- Max-Planck-Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg 69028, Germany
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17
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A suspended polymeric microfluidic sensor for liquid flow rate measurement in microchannels. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2642. [PMID: 35173261 PMCID: PMC8850574 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06656-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, a microfluidic cantilever flow sensor was designed and manufactured to monitor liquid flow rate within the range of 100–1000 µl/min. System simulation was also performed to determine the influential optimal parameters and compare the results with experimental data. A flowmeter was constructed as a curved cantilever with dimensions of 6.9 × 0.5 × 0.6 mm3 and a microchannel carved with a CO2 laser inside the cantilever beam. The fabrication substance was Polydimethylsiloxane. Different flow rates were injected using a syringe pump to test the performance of the flowmeter. Vertical displacement of the cantilever was measured in each flowrate using a digital microscope. According to the results, the full-scale overall device accuracy was up to ± 1.39%, and the response time of the sensor was measured to be 6.3 s. The microchip sensitivity was 0.126 µm/(µl/min) in the range of measured flow rates. The sensor could also be utilized multiple times with an acceptable error value. The experimental data obtained by the constructed microchip had a linear trend (R2 = 0.995) and were of good consistency with simulation results. Furthermore, according to the experimental and the simulation data, the initially curved cantilever structure had a higher bending and sensitivity level than a perfectly straight cantilever construction.
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18
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Renous N, Kiri MD, Barnea RA, Rauti R, Leichtmann-Bardoogo Y, Maoz BM. Spatial trans-epithelial electrical resistance (S-TEER) integrated in organs-on-chips. LAB ON A CHIP 2021; 22:71-79. [PMID: 34878455 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc00789k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Transepithelial/transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) is a label-free assay that is commonly used to assess tissue barrier integrity. TEER measurement systems have been embedded in organ-on-a-chip devices to provide live readouts of barrier functionality. Yet, these systems commonly provide the impedance values which correspond to the highest level of permeability throughout the chip and cannot provide localized information on specific regions of interest. This work introduces a system that provides this essential information: a spatial-TEER (S-TEER) organ-on-a-chip platform, which incorporates moving (scanning) electrodes that can measure electrical resistance at any desired location along the chip. We demonstrate the system's capacity to obtain localized measurements of permeability in selected regions of a cell sample. We show how, in a layer with non-uniform levels of cell coverage, permeability is higher in areas with lower cell density-suggesting that the system can be used to monitor local cellular growth in vitro. To demonstrate the applicability of the chip in studies of barrier function, we characterize tissue response to TNF-α and to EGTA, agents known to harm tissue barrier integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Renous
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
| | - Mark D Kiri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
| | - Ronny A Barnea
- School of Chemistry, Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Rossana Rauti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
| | | | - Ben M Maoz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- The Center of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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19
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Lagowala DA, Kwon S, Sidhaye VK, Kim DH. Human microphysiological models of airway and alveolar epithelia. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2021; 321:L1072-L1088. [PMID: 34612064 PMCID: PMC8715018 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00103.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Human organ-on-a-chip models are powerful tools for preclinical research that can be used to study the mechanisms of disease and evaluate new targets for therapeutic intervention. Lung-on-a-chip models have been one of the most well-characterized designs in this field and can be altered to evaluate various types of respiratory disease and to assess treatment candidates prior to clinical testing. These systems are capable of overcoming the flaws of conventional two-dimensional (2-D) cell culture and in vivo animal testing due to their ability to accurately recapitulate the in vivo microenvironment of human tissue with tunable material properties, microfluidic integration, delivery of precise mechanical and biochemical cues, and designs with organ-specific architecture. In this review, we first describe an overview of currently available lung-on-a-chip designs. We then present how recent innovations in human stem cell biology, tissue engineering, and microfabrication can be used to create more predictive human lung-on-a-chip models for studying respiratory disease. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and future directions of lung-on-a-chip designs for in vitro disease modeling with a particular focus on immune and multiorgan interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dave Anuj Lagowala
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Seoyoung Kwon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Venkataramana K Sidhaye
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Deok-Ho Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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20
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Carius P, Dubois A, Ajdarirad M, Artzy-Schnirman A, Sznitman J, Schneider-Daum N, Lehr CM. PerfuPul-A Versatile Perfusable Platform to Assess Permeability and Barrier Function of Air Exposed Pulmonary Epithelia. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:743236. [PMID: 34692661 PMCID: PMC8526933 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.743236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Complex in vitro models, especially those based on human cells and tissues, may successfully reduce or even replace animal models within pre-clinical development of orally inhaled drug products. Microfluidic lung-on-chips are regarded as especially promising models since they allow the culture of lung specific cell types under physiological stimuli including perfusion and air-liquid interface (ALI) conditions within a precisely controlled in vitro environment. Currently, though, such models are not available to a broad user community given their need for sophisticated microfabrication techniques. They further require systematic comparison to well-based filter supports, in analogy to traditional Transwells®. We here present a versatile perfusable platform that combines the advantages of well-based filter supports with the benefits of perfusion, to assess barrier permeability of and aerosol deposition on ALI cultured pulmonary epithelial cells. The platform as well as the required technical accessories can be reproduced via a detailed step-by-step protocol and implemented in typical bio-/pharmaceutical laboratories without specific expertise in microfabrication methods nor the need to buy costly specialized equipment. Calu-3 cells cultured under liquid covered conditions (LCC) inside the platform showed similar development of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) over a period of 14 days as cells cultured on a traditional Transwell®. By using a customized deposition chamber, fluorescein sodium was nebulized via a clinically relevant Aerogen® Solo nebulizer onto Calu-3 cells cultured under ALI conditions within the platform. This not only allowed to analyze the transport of fluorescein sodium after ALI deposition under perfusion, but also to compare it to transport under traditional static conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Carius
- Department of Drug Delivery (DDEL), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Aurélie Dubois
- Department of Drug Delivery (DDEL), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Morvarid Ajdarirad
- Department of Drug Delivery (DDEL), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Arbel Artzy-Schnirman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Josué Sznitman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Nicole Schneider-Daum
- Department of Drug Delivery (DDEL), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Claus-Michael Lehr
- Department of Drug Delivery (DDEL), Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Saarbrücken, Germany.,Department of Pharmacy, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
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21
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Prasanna P, Rathee S, Rahul V, Mandal D, Chandra Goud MS, Yadav P, Hawthorne S, Sharma A, Gupta PK, Ojha S, Jha NK, Villa C, Jha SK. Microfluidic Platforms to Unravel Mysteries of Alzheimer's Disease: How Far Have We Come? Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11101022. [PMID: 34685393 PMCID: PMC8537508 DOI: 10.3390/life11101022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a significant health concern with enormous social and economic impact globally. The gradual deterioration of cognitive functions and irreversible neuronal losses are primary features of the disease. Even after decades of research, most therapeutic options are merely symptomatic, and drugs in clinical practice present numerous side effects. Lack of effective diagnostic techniques prevents the early prognosis of disease, resulting in a gradual deterioration in the quality of life. Furthermore, the mechanism of cognitive impairment and AD pathophysiology is poorly understood. Microfluidics exploits different microscale properties of fluids to mimic environments on microfluidic chip-like devices. These miniature multichambered devices can be used to grow cells and 3D tissues in vitro, analyze cell-to-cell communication, decipher the roles of neural cells such as microglia, and gain insights into AD pathophysiology. This review focuses on the applications and impact of microfluidics on AD research. We discuss the technical challenges and possible solutions provided by this new cutting-edge technique to understand disease-associated pathways and mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragya Prasanna
- School of Applied Sciences, KK University, Nalanda 803115, Bihar, India;
- Correspondence: or (P.P.); (S.K.J.)
| | - Shweta Rathee
- Department of Food Science and Technology, National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management, Sonipat 131028, Haryana, India;
| | - Vedanabhatla Rahul
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela 769008, Odisha, India;
| | - Debabrata Mandal
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur 844101, Bihar, India;
| | | | - Pardeep Yadav
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India; (P.Y.); (N.K.J.)
| | - Susan Hawthorne
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Co., Londonderry BT52 1SA, UK;
| | - Ankur Sharma
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Science and Research (SBSR), Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India; (A.S.); (P.K.G.)
| | - Piyush Kumar Gupta
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Science and Research (SBSR), Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India; (A.S.); (P.K.G.)
| | - Shreesh Ojha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, P.O. Box 17666, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Niraj Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India; (P.Y.); (N.K.J.)
| | - Chiara Villa
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy;
| | - Saurabh Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology (SET), Sharda University, Greater Noida 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India; (P.Y.); (N.K.J.)
- Correspondence: or (P.P.); (S.K.J.)
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22
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Galpayage Dona KNU, Hale JF, Salako T, Anandanatarajan A, Tran KA, DeOre BJ, Galie PA, Ramirez SH, Andrews AM. The Use of Tissue Engineering to Fabricate Perfusable 3D Brain Microvessels in vitro. Front Physiol 2021; 12:715431. [PMID: 34531761 PMCID: PMC8438211 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.715431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue engineering of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in vitro has been rapidly expanding to address the challenges of mimicking the native structure and function of the BBB. Most of these models utilize 2D conventional microfluidic techniques. However, 3D microvascular models offer the potential to more closely recapitulate the cytoarchitecture and multicellular arrangement of in vivo microvasculature, and also can recreate branching and network topologies of the vascular bed. In this perspective, we discuss current 3D brain microvessel modeling techniques including templating, printing, and self-assembling capillary networks. Furthermore, we address the use of biological matrices and fluid dynamics. Finally, key challenges are identified along with future directions that will improve development of next generation of brain microvasculature models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalpani N Udeni Galpayage Dona
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jonathan Franklin Hale
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Tobi Salako
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Akanksha Anandanatarajan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Kiet A Tran
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, United States
| | - Brandon J DeOre
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, United States
| | - Peter Adam Galie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, United States
| | - Servio Heybert Ramirez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,The Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Allison Michelle Andrews
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.,The Center for Substance Abuse Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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23
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Malik M, Yang Y, Fathi P, Mahler GJ, Esch MB. Critical Considerations for the Design of Multi-Organ Microphysiological Systems (MPS). Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:721338. [PMID: 34568333 PMCID: PMC8459628 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.721338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Identification and approval of new drugs for use in patients requires extensive preclinical studies and clinical trials. Preclinical studies rely on in vitro experiments and animal models of human diseases. The transferability of drug toxicity and efficacy estimates to humans from animal models is being called into question. Subsequent clinical studies often reveal lower than expected efficacy and higher drug toxicity in humans than that seen in animal models. Microphysiological systems (MPS), sometimes called organ or human-on-chip models, present a potential alternative to animal-based models used for drug toxicity screening. This review discusses multi-organ MPS that can be used to model diseases and test the efficacy and safety of drug candidates. The translation of an in vivo environment to an in vitro system requires physiologically relevant organ scaling, vascular dimensions, and appropriate flow rates. Even small changes in those parameters can alter the outcome of experiments conducted with MPS. With many MPS devices being developed, we have outlined some established standards for designing MPS devices and described techniques to validate the devices. A physiologically realistic mimic of the human body can help determine the dose response and toxicity effects of a new drug candidate with higher predictive power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mridu Malik
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
- Biophysical and Biomedical Measurement Group, Physical Measurement Laboratory, Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Yang Yang
- Biophysical and Biomedical Measurement Group, Physical Measurement Laboratory, Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Parinaz Fathi
- Department of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Gretchen J. Mahler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, United States
| | - Mandy B. Esch
- Biophysical and Biomedical Measurement Group, Physical Measurement Laboratory, Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
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24
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Fuchs S, Johansson S, Tjell AØ, Werr G, Mayr T, Tenje M. In-Line Analysis of Organ-on-Chip Systems with Sensors: Integration, Fabrication, Challenges, and Potential. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:2926-2948. [PMID: 34133114 PMCID: PMC8278381 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c01110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Organ-on-chip systems are promising new in vitro research tools in medical, pharmaceutical, and biological research. Their main benefit, compared to standard cell culture platforms, lies in the improved in vivo resemblance of the cell culture environment. A critical aspect of these systems is the ability to monitor both the cell culture conditions and biological responses of the cultured cells, such as proliferation and differentiation rates, release of signaling molecules, and metabolic activity. Today, this is mostly done using microscopy techniques and off-chip analytical techniques and assays. Integrating in situ analysis methods on-chip enables improved time resolution, continuous measurements, and a faster read-out; hence, more information can be obtained from the developed organ and disease models. Integrated electrical, electrochemical, and optical sensors have been developed and used for chemical analysis in lab-on-a-chip systems for many years, and recently some of these sensing principles have started to find use in organ-on-chip systems as well. This perspective review describes the basic sensing principles, sensor fabrication, and sensor integration in organ-on-chip systems. The review also presents the current state of the art of integrated sensors and discusses future potential. We bring a technological perspective, with the aim of introducing in-line sensing and its promise to advance organ-on-chip systems and the challenges that lie in the integration to researchers without expertise in sensor technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Fuchs
- Institute
for Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, A-8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Sofia Johansson
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 35, 751 03 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Ø. Tjell
- Institute
for Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, A-8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Gabriel Werr
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 35, 751 03 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Torsten Mayr
- Institute
for Analytical Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Graz University of Technology, Stremayrgasse 9, A-8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Maria Tenje
- Department
of Materials Science and Engineering, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 35, 751 03 Uppsala, Sweden
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25
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Microfluidic System for In Vivo-Like Drug Permeation Studies with Dynamic Dilution Profiles. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021; 8:bioengineering8050058. [PMID: 34063027 PMCID: PMC8147988 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8050058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Automated biomimetic systems for the preclinical testing of drugs are of great interest. Here, an in vitro testing platform for in vivo adapted drug absorption studies is presented. It has been designed with a focus on easy handling and the usability of established cell cultivation techniques in standard well plate inserts. The platform consists of a microfluidic device, which accommodates a well plate insert with pre-cultivated cells, and provides a fluid flow with dynamic drug dilution profiles. A low-cost single-board computer with a touchscreen was used as a control unit. This provides a graphical user interface, controls the syringe pump flow rates, and records the transepithelial electrical resistance. It thereby enables automated parallel testing in multiple devices at the same time. To demonstrate functionality, an MDCK cell layer was used as a model for an epithelial barrier for drug permeation testing. This confirms the possibility of performing absorption studies on barrier tissues under conditions close to those in vivo. Therefore, a further reduction in animal experiments can be expected.
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26
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Chang SH, Ko PL, Liao WH, Peng CC, Tung YC. Transwell Insert-Embedded Microfluidic Devices for Time-Lapse Monitoring of Alveolar Epithelium Barrier Function under Various Stimulations. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:406. [PMID: 33917518 PMCID: PMC8067445 DOI: 10.3390/mi12040406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This paper reports a transwell insert-embedded microfluidic device capable of culturing cells at an air-liquid interface (ALI), mimicking the in vivo alveolar epithelium microenvironment. Integration of a commercially available transwell insert makes the device fabrication straightforward and eliminates the tedious device assembly processes. The transwell insert can later be detached from the device for high-resolution imaging of the cells. In the experiments, the cells showing type-I pneumocyte markers are exploited to construct an in vitro alveolar epithelium model, and four culture conditions including conventional liquid/liquid culture (LLC) and air-liquid interface (ALI) cell culture in normal growth medium, and ALI cell culture with inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) stimulation and ethanol vapor exposure are applied to investigate their effects on the alveolar epithelium barrier function. The barrier permeability is time-lapse monitored using trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurement and immunofluorescence staining of the tight junction protein (ZO-1). The results demonstrate the functionalities of the device, and further show the applications and advantages of the constructed in vitro cell models for the lung studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Han Chang
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan;
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; (P.-L.K.); (W.-H.L.); (C.-C.P.)
| | - Ping-Liang Ko
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; (P.-L.K.); (W.-H.L.); (C.-C.P.)
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Hao Liao
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; (P.-L.K.); (W.-H.L.); (C.-C.P.)
| | - Chien-Chung Peng
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; (P.-L.K.); (W.-H.L.); (C.-C.P.)
| | - Yi-Chung Tung
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; (P.-L.K.); (W.-H.L.); (C.-C.P.)
- College of Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan
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27
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Raut B, Chen LJ, Hori T, Kaji H. An Open-Source Add-On EVOM ® Device for Real-Time Transepithelial/Endothelial Electrical Resistance Measurements in Multiple Transwell Samples. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:282. [PMID: 33800233 PMCID: PMC8000980 DOI: 10.3390/mi12030282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This study provides design of a low-cost and open source add-on device that enhances the functionality of the popular EVOM® instrument for transepithelial/endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurement. The original EVOM® instrument is designed for measuring TEER in transwell samples manually using a pair of Ag/AgCl electrodes. The inconsistency in electrode placement, temperature variation, and a typically large (12-24 h) time interval between measurements result in large data variabilities. Thus, to solve the current limitation of the EVOM® instrument, we built an add-on device using a custom designed electronic board and a 3D printed electrode holder that allowed automated TEER measurements in multiple transwell samples. To demonstrate the functionality of the device prototype, we monitored TEER in 4 transwell samples containing retinal cells (ARPE-19) for 67 h. Furthermore, by monitoring temperature of the cell culture medium, we were able to detect fluctuations in TEER due to temperature change after the medium change process, and were able to correct the data offset. Although we demonstrated the use of our add-on device on EVOM® instrument only, the concept (multiplexing using digitally controlled relays) and hardware (custom data logger) presented here can be applied to more advanced TEER instruments to improve the performance of those devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibek Raut
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan; (B.R.); (L.-J.C.); (T.H.)
| | - Li-Jiun Chen
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan; (B.R.); (L.-J.C.); (T.H.)
| | - Takeshi Hori
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan; (B.R.); (L.-J.C.); (T.H.)
| | - Hirokazu Kaji
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan; (B.R.); (L.-J.C.); (T.H.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan
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28
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Virumbrales-Muñoz M, Ayuso JM, Gong MM, Humayun M, Livingston MK, Lugo-Cintrón KM, McMinn P, Álvarez-García YR, Beebe DJ. Microfluidic lumen-based systems for advancing tubular organ modeling. Chem Soc Rev 2020; 49:6402-6442. [PMID: 32760967 PMCID: PMC7521761 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00705f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidic lumen-based systems are microscale models that recapitulate the anatomy and physiology of tubular organs. These technologies can mimic human pathophysiology and predict drug response, having profound implications for drug discovery and development. Herein, we review progress in the development of microfluidic lumen-based models from the 2000s to the present. The core of the review discusses models for mimicking blood vessels, the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, renal tubules, and liver sinusoids, and their application to modeling organ-specific diseases. We also highlight emerging application areas, such as the lymphatic system, and close the review discussing potential future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Virumbrales-Muñoz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. and University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - José M Ayuso
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. and University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA and Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Max M Gong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. and University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Trine University, Angola, IN, USA
| | - Mouhita Humayun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. and University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Megan K Livingston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. and University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Karina M Lugo-Cintrón
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. and University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Patrick McMinn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. and University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Yasmín R Álvarez-García
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. and University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA
| | - David J Beebe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA. and University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI, USA and Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
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29
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Li Y, Li D, Zhao P, Nandakumar K, Wang L, Song Y. Microfluidics-Based Systems in Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease and Biomimetic Modeling. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11090787. [PMID: 32825153 PMCID: PMC7569794 DOI: 10.3390/mi11090787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Early detection and accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is essential for patient care and disease treatment. Microfluidic technology is emerging as an economical and versatile platform in disease detection and diagnosis. It can be conveniently integrated with nanotechnology and/or biological models for biomedical functional and pre-clinical treatment study. These strengths make it advantageous in disease biomarker detection and functional analysis against a wide range of biological backgrounds. This review highlights the recent developments and trends of microfluidic applications in AD research. The first part looks at the principles and methods for AD diagnostic biomarker detection and profiling. The second part discusses how microfluidic chips, especially organ-on-a-chip platforms, could be used as an independent approach and/or integrated with other technologies in AD biomimetic functional analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- Energy Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China; (Y.L.); (P.Z.); (K.N.)
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
| | - Danni Li
- Department of Neurology, Jinan Central Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250013, China;
| | - Pei Zhao
- Energy Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China; (Y.L.); (P.Z.); (K.N.)
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China
| | - Krishnaswamy Nandakumar
- Energy Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250014, China; (Y.L.); (P.Z.); (K.N.)
- Cain Department of Chemical Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Liqiu Wang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence: (L.W.); (Y.S.)
| | - Youqiang Song
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Correspondence: (L.W.); (Y.S.)
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30
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Gerasimenko T, Nikulin S, Zakharova G, Poloznikov A, Petrov V, Baranova A, Tonevitsky A. Impedance Spectroscopy as a Tool for Monitoring Performance in 3D Models of Epithelial Tissues. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 7:474. [PMID: 32039179 PMCID: PMC6992543 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In contrast to traditional 2D cell cultures, both 3D models and organ-on-a-chip devices allow the study of the physiological responses of human cells. These models reconstruct human tissues in conditions closely resembling the body. Translation of these techniques into practice is hindered by associated labor costs, a need which may be remedied by automation. Impedance spectroscopy (IS) is a promising, automation-compatible label-free technology allowing to carry out a wide range of measurements both in real-time and as endpoints. IS has been applied to both the barrier cultures and the 3D constructs. Here we provide an overview of the impedance-based analysis in different setups and discuss its utility for organ-on-a-chip devices. Most attractive features of impedance-based assays are their compatibility with high-throughput format and supports for the measurements in real time with high temporal resolution, which allow tracing of the kinetics. As of now, IS-based techniques are not free of limitations, including imperfect understanding of the parameters that have their effects on the impedance, especially in 3D cell models, and relatively high cost of the consumables. Moreover, as the theory of IS stems from electromagnetic theory and is quite complex, work on popularization and explanation of the method for experimental biologists is required. It is expected that overcoming these limitations will lead to eventual establishing IS based systems as a standard for automated management of cell-based experiments in both academic and industry environments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sergey Nikulin
- Scientific Research Centre Bioclinicum, Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Microphysiological Systems, School of Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Galina Zakharova
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncoendocrinology, Endocrinology Research Centre, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey Poloznikov
- Laboratory of Microphysiological Systems, School of Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Medical Research Radiological Center of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Obninsk, Russia
| | - Vladimir Petrov
- Scientific Research Centre Bioclinicum, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Development and Research of Micro- and Nanosystems, Institute of Nanotechnologies of Microelectronics RAS, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ancha Baranova
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, United States
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
- Laboratory of Functional Genomics, “Research Centre for Medical Genetics”, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Tonevitsky
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnologies, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Microfluidic Technologies for Biomedicine, Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAS, Moscow, Russia
- art photonics GmbH, Berlin, Germany
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31
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Chen LJ, Raut B, Nagai N, Abe T, Kaji H. Prototyping a Versatile Two-Layer Multi-Channel Microfluidic Device for Direct-Contact Cell-Vessel Co-Culture. MICROMACHINES 2020; 11:mi11010079. [PMID: 31936821 PMCID: PMC7019926 DOI: 10.3390/mi11010079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Microfluidic devices are gaining increasing popularity due to their wide applications in various research areas. Herein, we propose a two-layer multi-channel microfluidic device allowing for direct-contact cell-vessel co-culture. Using the device, we built a co-culture model of the outer blood-retina barrier (oBRB), mimicking the in vivo retinal pigment epithelial cells-Bruch membrane-fenestrated choroids. To demonstrate the versatility of the design, we further modified the device by inserting platinum electrodes for trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurement, demonstrating the feasibility of on-chip assessment of the epithelial barrier integrity. Our proposed design allows for direct-contact co-culture of cell–cell or cell–vessel, modifiable for real-time evaluation of the state of the epithelial monolayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Jiun Chen
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan
| | - Bibek Raut
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Nagai
- Division of Clinical Cell Therapy, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine (ART), Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Abe
- Division of Clinical Cell Therapy, United Centers for Advanced Research and Translational Medicine (ART), Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Kaji
- Department of Finemechanics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-01 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-22-795-4249
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32
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Bulboacă AE, Boarescu PM, Melincovici CS, Mihu CM. Microfluidic endothelium-on-a-chip development, from in vivo to in vitro experimental models. ROMANIAN JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY AND EMBRYOLOGY = REVUE ROUMAINE DE MORPHOLOGIE ET EMBRYOLOGIE 2020; 61:15-23. [PMID: 32747891 PMCID: PMC7728109 DOI: 10.47162/rjme.61.1.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
In the last years, animal testing in medical research has been a controversial topic because of various reasons, such as ethical considerations and species differences. Therefore, more attention has been given to develop new technologies that can replace animal experiments and create in vitro models. Organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technology is a new and advanced technology based on microfluidic devices that can mimic the structure and function of entire organs and tissues as in vitro models. OOC models are miniature tissues and organs that assign characteristics for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture representation that resemble the original organs, together with their specific microenvironment microfluidic systems and specific biophysical processes, in order to mimic the normal physiological conditions and functionalities of the organs. Existing OOC models, such as liver, pancreas, heart, skin, brain, kidney, vessels, have been developed and designed for a specific function study. This review focuses on the main knowledge concerning OOC research and especially vascular endothelium-on-a-chip (EOC) model, developed in order to offer specific tools for studying vascular functions in physiological and pathological conditions. The field of OOC devices is still at the beginning, but in the future, this technology may have important roles in developing novel therapeutic approaches, offering new therapeutic molecules and providing the first step towards personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Elena Bulboacă
- Discipline of Histology, Department of Morphological Sciences, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
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Seo S, Kim H, Sung JH, Choi N, Lee K, Kim HN. Microphysiological systems for recapitulating physiology and function of blood-brain barrier. Biomaterials 2019; 232:119732. [PMID: 31901694 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2019.119732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) diseases are emerging as a major issue in an aging society. Although extensive research has focused on the development of CNS drugs, the limited transport of therapeutic agents across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains a major challenge. Conventional two-dimensional culture dishes do not recapitulate in vivo physiology and real-time observations of molecular transport are not possible in animal models. Recent advances in engineering techniques have enabled the generation of more physiologically relevant in vitro BBB models, and their applications have expanded from fundamental biological research to practical applications in the pharmaceutical industry. In this article, we provide an overview of recent advances in the development of in vitro BBB models, with a particular focus on the recapitulation of BBB function. The development of biomimetic BBB models is postulated to revolutionize not only fundamental biological studies but also drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyeong Seo
- Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Program in Nano Science and Technology, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwieun Kim
- Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Hwan Sung
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul, 04066, Republic of Korea
| | - Nakwon Choi
- Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Kangwon Lee
- Program in Nano Science and Technology, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hong Nam Kim
- Center for BioMicrosystems, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea.
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Soucy JR, Bindas AJ, Koppes AN, Koppes RA. Instrumented Microphysiological Systems for Real-Time Measurement and Manipulation of Cellular Electrochemical Processes. iScience 2019; 21:521-548. [PMID: 31715497 PMCID: PMC6849363 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.10.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in electronic materials and subsequent surface modifications have facilitated real-time measurements of cellular processes far beyond traditional passive recordings of neurons and muscle cells. Specifically, the functionalization of conductive materials with ligand-binding aptamers has permitted the utilization of traditional electronic materials for bioelectronic sensing. Further, microfabrication techniques have better allowed microfluidic devices to recapitulate the physiological and pathological conditions of complex tissues and organs in vitro or microphysiological systems (MPS). The convergence of these models with advances in biological/biomedical microelectromechanical systems (BioMEMS) instrumentation has rapidly bolstered a wide array of bioelectronic platforms for real-time cellular analytics. In this review, we provide an overview of the sensing techniques that are relevant to MPS development and highlight the different organ systems to integrate instrumentation for measurement and manipulation of cellular function. Special attention is given to how instrumented MPS can disrupt the drug development and fundamental mechanistic discovery processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Soucy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Adam J Bindas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Abigail N Koppes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ryan A Koppes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Motallebnejad P, Thomas A, Swisher SL, Azarin SM. An isogenic hiPSC-derived BBB-on-a-chip. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2019; 13:064119. [PMID: 31768205 PMCID: PMC6874510 DOI: 10.1063/1.5123476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is composed of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) that regulate brain homeostasis, and astrocytes within the brain are involved in the maintenance of the BBB or modulation of its integrity in disease states via secreted factors. A major challenge in modeling the normal or diseased BBB is that conventional in vitro models lack either the physiological complexity of the BBB or key functional features such as formation of a sufficiently tight barrier. In this study, we utilized human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived BMECs in a BBB-on-a-chip device that supports flow and coculture with an astrocyte-laden 3D hydrogel. The BMECs are separated from the hydrogel by a porous membrane with either 0.4 or 8.0 μm pore size, making the device suitable for studying the transport of molecules or cells, respectively, across the BBB. In addition, all cells seeded in the device are differentiated from the same hiPSC line, which could enable genetic and rare disease modeling. Formation of a confluent BMEC barrier was confirmed by immunocytochemistry of tight junction proteins and measurement of fluorescein permeability. Integrity of the barrier was further assessed by performing impedance spectroscopy in the device. Finally, the ability of this device to recapitulate a disease model of BBB disruption was demonstrated, with apical addition of TGF-β1 leading to transendothelial electrical resistance reduction and indicators of astrocyte activation. These results demonstrate the utility of the fabricated device for a broad range of applications such as drug screening and mechanistic studies of BBB disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedram Motallebnejad
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Andrew Thomas
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Sarah L. Swisher
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
| | - Samira M. Azarin
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed:
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Hiramoto K, Ino K, Nashimoto Y, Ito K, Shiku H. Electric and Electrochemical Microfluidic Devices for Cell Analysis. Front Chem 2019; 7:396. [PMID: 31214576 PMCID: PMC6557978 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2019.00396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidic devices are widely used for cell analysis, including applications for single-cell analysis, healthcare, environmental monitoring, and organs-on-a-chip that mimic organs in microfluidics. Moreover, to enable high-throughput cell analysis, real-time monitoring, and non-invasive cell assays, electric and electrochemical systems have been incorporated into microfluidic devices. In this mini-review, we summarize recent advances in these systems, with applications from single cells to three-dimensional cultured cells and organs-on-a-chip. First, we summarize microfluidic devices combined with dielectrophoresis, electrophoresis, and electrowetting-on-a-dielectric for cell manipulation. Next, we review electric and electrochemical assays of cells to determine chemical section activity, and oxygen and glucose consumption activity, among other applications. In addition, we discuss recent devices designed for the electric and electrochemical collection of cell components from cells. Finally, we highlight the future directions of research in this field and their application prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaoru Hiramoto
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kosuke Ino
- Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuji Nashimoto
- Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kentaro Ito
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Shiku
- Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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Cacopardo L, Costa J, Giusti S, Buoncompagni L, Meucci S, Corti A, Mattei G, Ahluwalia A. Real-time cellular impedance monitoring and imaging of biological barriers in a dual-flow membrane bioreactor. Biosens Bioelectron 2019; 140:111340. [PMID: 31154254 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2019.111340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The generation of physiologically relevant in-vitro models of biological barriers can play a key role in understanding human diseases and in the development of more predictive methods for assessing toxicity and drug or nutrient absorption. Here, we present an advanced cell culture system able to mimic the dynamic environment of biological barriers while monitoring cell behaviour through real-time impedance measurements and imaging. It consists of a fluidic device with an apical and a basal flow compartment separated by a semi-permeable membrane. The main features of the device are the integration of sensing through transepithelial electrical impedance (TEEI) measurements and transparent windows for optical monitoring within a dual flow system. Caco-2 cells were cultured in the TEEI bioreactor under both flow and static conditions. Although no differences in the expression of peripheral actin and occludin were visible, the cells in dynamic conditions developed higher impedance values at low frequencies, indicative of a higher paracellular electrical impedance with respect to the static cultures. TEEI measurements at high frequency also enabled monitoring monolayer formation, which can be correlated with the observation of an RC behaviour in the impedance spectra. In particular, the cells subject to flow showed accelerated barrier formation and increased vitality with respect to the static controls, again highlighting the importance of dynamic conditions for epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Cacopardo
- Research Centre 'E. Piaggio', University of Pisa, Italy; Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - J Costa
- Research Centre 'E. Piaggio', University of Pisa, Italy; Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - S Giusti
- Research Centre 'E. Piaggio', University of Pisa, Italy; IVTech S.r.l, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - S Meucci
- Micronit Microtechnologies, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - A Corti
- Research Centre 'E. Piaggio', University of Pisa, Italy; Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - G Mattei
- Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - A Ahluwalia
- Research Centre 'E. Piaggio', University of Pisa, Italy; Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Italy.
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van der Helm MW, Henry OYF, Bein A, Hamkins-Indik T, Cronce MJ, Leineweber WD, Odijk M, van der Meer AD, Eijkel JCT, Ingber DE, van den Berg A, Segerink LI. Non-invasive sensing of transepithelial barrier function and tissue differentiation in organs-on-chips using impedance spectroscopy. LAB ON A CHIP 2019; 19:452-463. [PMID: 30632575 DOI: 10.1039/c8lc00129d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Here, we describe methods for combining impedance spectroscopy measurements with electrical simulation to reveal transepithelial barrier function and tissue structure of human intestinal epithelium cultured inside an organ-on-chip microfluidic culture device. When performing impedance spectroscopy measurements, electrical simulation enabled normalization of cell layer resistance of epithelium cultured statically in a gut-on-a-chip, which enabled determination of transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) values that can be compared across device platforms. During culture under dynamic flow, the formation of intestinal villi was accompanied by characteristic changes in impedance spectra both measured experimentally and verified with simulation, and we demonstrate that changes in cell layer capacitance may serve as measures of villi differentiation. This method for combining impedance spectroscopy with simulation can be adapted to better monitor cell layer characteristics within any organ-on-chip in vitro and to enable direct quantitative TEER comparisons between organ-on-chip platforms which should help to advance research on organ function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marinke W van der Helm
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, P. O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
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Gkatzis K, Taghizadeh S, Huh D, Stainier DYR, Bellusci S. Use of three-dimensional organoids and lung-on-a-chip methods to study lung development, regeneration and disease. Eur Respir J 2018; 52:13993003.00876-2018. [PMID: 30262579 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00876-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Differences in lung anatomy between mice and humans, as well as frequently disappointing results when using animal models for drug discovery, emphasise the unmet need for in vitro models that can complement animal studies and improve our understanding of human lung physiology, regeneration and disease. Recent papers have highlighted the use of three-dimensional organoids and organs-on-a-chip to mimic tissue morphogenesis and function in vitro Here, we focus on the respiratory system and provide an overview of these in vitro models, which can be derived from primary lung cells and pluripotent stem cells, as well as healthy or diseased lungs. We emphasise their potential application in studies of respiratory development, regeneration and disease modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Gkatzis
- Dept of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Sara Taghizadeh
- Dept of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Dongeun Huh
- Dept of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Didier Y R Stainier
- Dept of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Saverio Bellusci
- Dept of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Excellence Cluster Cardio-Pulmonary System, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany and German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
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40
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Arık YB, van der Helm MW, Odijk M, Segerink LI, Passier R, van den Berg A, van der Meer AD. Barriers-on-chips: Measurement of barrier function of tissues in organs-on-chips. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2018; 12:042218. [PMID: 30018697 PMCID: PMC6019329 DOI: 10.1063/1.5023041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Disruption of tissue barriers formed by cells is an integral part of the pathophysiology of many diseases. Therefore, a thorough understanding of tissue barrier function is essential when studying the causes and mechanisms of disease as well as when developing novel treatments. In vitro methods play an integral role in understanding tissue barrier function, and several techniques have been developed in order to evaluate barrier integrity of cultured cell layers, from microscopy imaging of cell-cell adhesion proteins to measuring ionic currents, to flux of water or transport of molecules across cellular barriers. Unfortunately, many of the current in vitro methods suffer from not fully recapitulating the microenvironment of tissues and organs. Recently, organ-on-chip devices have emerged to overcome this challenge. Organs-on-chips are microfluidic cell culture devices with continuously perfused microchannels inhabited by living cells. Freedom of changing the design of device architecture offers the opportunity of recapitulating the in vivo physiological environment while measuring barrier function. Assessment of barriers in organs-on-chips can be challenging as they may require dedicated setups and have smaller volumes that are more sensitive to environmental conditions. But they do provide the option of continuous, non-invasive sensing of barrier quality, which enables better investigation of important aspects of pathophysiology, biological processes, and development of therapies that target barrier tissues. Here, we discuss several techniques to assess barrier function of tissues in organs-on-chips, highlighting advantages and technical challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marinke W van der Helm
- BIOS Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Mathieu Odijk
- BIOS Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Loes I Segerink
- BIOS Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | | | - Albert van den Berg
- BIOS Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Andries D van der Meer
- Department of Applied Stem Cell Technologies, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
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41
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High-throughput organ-on-a-chip systems: Current status and remaining challenges. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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42
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Bogorad MI, DeStefano J, Wong AD, Searson PC. Tissue-engineered 3D microvessel and capillary network models for the study of vascular phenomena. Microcirculation 2018; 24. [PMID: 28164421 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Advances in tissue engineering, cell biology, microfabrication, and microfluidics have led to the development of a wide range of vascular models. Here, we review platforms based on templated microvessel fabrication to generate increasingly complex vascular models of (i) the tumor microenvironment, (ii) occluded microvessels, and (iii) perfused capillary networks. We outline fabrication guidelines and demonstrate a number of experimental methods for probing vascular function such as permeability measurements, tumor cell intravasation, flow characterization, and endothelial cell morphology and proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max I Bogorad
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology (INBT), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jackson DeStefano
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology (INBT), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew D Wong
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology (INBT), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peter C Searson
- Institute for Nanobiotechnology (INBT), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Wang C, Tanataweethum N, Karnik S, Bhushan A. Novel Microfluidic Colon with an Extracellular Matrix Membrane. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2018; 4:1377-1385. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.7b00883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chengyao Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Nida Tanataweethum
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Sonali Karnik
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
| | - Abhinav Bhushan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, Illinois 60616, United States
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Abstract
Silicon nanomembranes are ultrathin, highly permeable, optically transparent and biocompatible substrates for the construction of barrier tissue models. Trans-epithelial/endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) is often used as a non-invasive, sensitive and quantitative technique to assess barrier function. The current study characterizes the electrical behavior of devices featuring silicon nanomembranes to facilitate their application in TEER studies. In conventional practice with commercial systems, raw resistance values are multiplied by the area of the membrane supporting cell growth to normalize TEER measurements. We demonstrate that under most circumstances, this multiplication does not 'normalize' TEER values as is assumed, and that the assumption is worse if applied to nanomembrane chips with a limited active area. To compare the TEER values from nanomembrane devices to those obtained from conventional polymer track-etched (TE) membranes, we develop finite element models (FEM) of the electrical behavior of the two membrane systems. Using FEM and parallel cell-culture experiments on both types of membranes, we successfully model the evolution of resistance values during the growth of endothelial monolayers. Further, by exploring the relationship between the models we develop a 'correction' function, which when applied to nanomembrane TEER, maps to experiments on conventional TE membranes. In summary, our work advances the the utility of silicon nanomembranes as substrates for barrier tissue models by developing an interpretation of TEER values compatible with conventional systems.
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Kottamasu P, Herman I. Engineering a microcirculation for perfusion control of ex vivo-assembled organ systems: Challenges and opportunities. J Tissue Eng 2018; 9:2041731418772949. [PMID: 29780570 PMCID: PMC5952288 DOI: 10.1177/2041731418772949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Donor organ shortage remains a clear problem for many end-stage organ patients around the world. The number of available donor organs pales in comparison with the number of patients in need of these organs. The field of tissue engineering proposes a plausible solution. Using stem cells, a patient's autologous cells, or allografted cells to seed-engineered scaffolds, tissue-engineered constructs can effectively supplement the donor pool and bypass other problems that arise when using donor organs, such as who receives the organ first and whether donor organ rejection may occur. However, current research methods and technologies have been unable to successfully engineer and vascularize large volume tissue constructs. This review examines the current perfusion methods for ex vivo organ systems, defines the different types of vascularization in organs, explores various strategies to vascularize ex vivo organ systems, and discusses challenges and opportunities for the field of tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ira Herman
- Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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46
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Liu J, Mahony JB, Selvaganapathy PR. Low-cost and versatile integration of microwire electrodes and optical waveguides into silicone elastomeric devices using modified xurographic methods. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2017; 3:17040. [PMID: 31057875 PMCID: PMC6445004 DOI: 10.1038/micronano.2017.40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Microelectrodes are used in microfluidic devices for a variety of purposes such as heating, applying electric fields, and electrochemical sensing. However, they are still manufactured by expensive deposition techniques such as sputtering or evaporation and patterned using photolithography methods. More recently, alternate methods including nanoparticle sintering and use of liquid metal flowing through microchannels have been used to fabricate microelectrodes. These methods are limited in the material choices or require post processing to be integrated into microchannels. Here we developed a low-cost and versatile method to integrate high-quality metal microwires into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using xurography. The microwire integration process includes cutting slit pattern on PDMS substrate and subsequent writing metal microwires into the slit pattern using a specialized tip. Then the microwire-integrated PDMS was sealed/bonded using uncured PDMS prepolymer. This method enables integration of metal microwires of diameter as small as 15 μm into PDMS devices. Integration of multiple microwires with minimum spacing of 150 μm has also been demonstrated. The versatility of this method is demonstrated by the fabrication of metal microwire suspended in the middle of the microchannel, which is difficult to achieve using conventional electrode fabrication methods. This low-cost method avoids expensive clean room fabrication yet producing high-quality electrodes and can be used in a variety of microfluidic and MEMS applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juncong Liu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L7, Canada
| | - James B Mahony
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Ponnambalam Ravi Selvaganapathy
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L7, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S4K1, Canada
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47
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van der Helm MW, Odijk M, Frimat JP, van der Meer AD, Eijkel JCT, van den Berg A, Segerink LI. Fabrication and Validation of an Organ-on-chip System with Integrated Electrodes to Directly Quantify Transendothelial Electrical Resistance. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28994800 PMCID: PMC5752338 DOI: 10.3791/56334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Organs-on-chips, in vitro models involving the culture of (human) tissues inside microfluidic devices, are rapidly emerging and promise to provide useful research tools for studying human health and disease. To characterize the barrier function of cell layers cultured inside organ-on-chip devices, often transendothelial or transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) is measured. To this end, electrodes are usually integrated into the chip by micromachining methods to provide more stable measurements than is achieved with manual insertion of electrodes into the inlets of the chip. However, these electrodes frequently hamper visual inspection of the studied cell layer or require expensive cleanroom processes for fabrication. To overcome these limitations, the device described here contains four easily integrated electrodes that are placed and fixed outside of the culture area, making visual inspection possible. Using these four electrodes the resistance of six measurement paths can be quantified, from which the TEER can be directly isolated, independent of the resistance of culture medium-filled microchannels. The blood-brain barrier was replicated in this device and its TEER was monitored to show the device applicability. This chip, the integrated electrodes and the TEER determination method are generally applicable in organs-on-chips, both to mimic other organs or to be incorporated into existing organ-on-chip systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marinke W van der Helm
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente;
| | - Mathieu Odijk
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente
| | - Jean-Philippe Frimat
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente; Microsystems, Eindhoven University of Technology
| | - Andries D van der Meer
- Applied Stem Cell Technologies, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente
| | - Jan C T Eijkel
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente
| | - Albert van den Berg
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente
| | - Loes I Segerink
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente
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van der Helm MW, Odijk M, Frimat JP, van der Meer AD, Eijkel JCT, van den Berg A, Segerink LI. Fabrication and Validation of an Organ-on-chip System with Integrated Electrodes to Directly Quantify Transendothelial Electrical Resistance. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28994800 DOI: 10.3791/5633456334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Organs-on-chips, in vitro models involving the culture of (human) tissues inside microfluidic devices, are rapidly emerging and promise to provide useful research tools for studying human health and disease. To characterize the barrier function of cell layers cultured inside organ-on-chip devices, often transendothelial or transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) is measured. To this end, electrodes are usually integrated into the chip by micromachining methods to provide more stable measurements than is achieved with manual insertion of electrodes into the inlets of the chip. However, these electrodes frequently hamper visual inspection of the studied cell layer or require expensive cleanroom processes for fabrication. To overcome these limitations, the device described here contains four easily integrated electrodes that are placed and fixed outside of the culture area, making visual inspection possible. Using these four electrodes the resistance of six measurement paths can be quantified, from which the TEER can be directly isolated, independent of the resistance of culture medium-filled microchannels. The blood-brain barrier was replicated in this device and its TEER was monitored to show the device applicability. This chip, the integrated electrodes and the TEER determination method are generally applicable in organs-on-chips, both to mimic other organs or to be incorporated into existing organ-on-chip systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marinke W van der Helm
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente;
| | - Mathieu Odijk
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente
| | - Jean-Philippe Frimat
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente; Microsystems, Eindhoven University of Technology
| | - Andries D van der Meer
- Applied Stem Cell Technologies, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente
| | - Jan C T Eijkel
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente
| | - Albert van den Berg
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente
| | - Loes I Segerink
- BIOS Lab on a Chip group, MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and Max Planck Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente
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Henry OYF, Villenave R, Cronce MJ, Leineweber WD, Benz MA, Ingber DE. Organs-on-chips with integrated electrodes for trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements of human epithelial barrier function. LAB ON A CHIP 2017; 17:2264-2271. [PMID: 28598479 PMCID: PMC5526048 DOI: 10.1039/c7lc00155j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 242] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) is broadly used as an experimental readout and a quality control assay for measuring the integrity of epithelial monolayers cultured under static conditions in vitro, however, there is no standard methodology for its application to microfluidic organ-on-a-chip (organ chip) cultures. Here, we describe a new microfluidic organ chip design that contains embedded electrodes, and we demonstrate its utility for assessing formation and disruption of barrier function both within a human lung airway chip lined by a fully differentiated mucociliary human airway epithelium and in a human gut chip lined by intestinal epithelial cells. These chips with integrated electrodes enable real-time, non-invasive monitoring of TEER and can be applied to measure barrier function in virtually any type of cultured cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Y F Henry
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, CLSB5, 3 Blackfan Circle, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Christoffersson J, van Noort D, Mandenius CF. Developing organ-on-a-chip concepts using bio-mechatronic design methodology. Biofabrication 2017; 9:025023. [PMID: 28485301 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/aa71ca] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Mechatronic design is an engineering methodology for conceiving, configuring and optimising the design of a technical device or product to the needs and requirements of the final user. In this article, we show how the basic principles of this methodology can be exploited for in vitro cell cultures-often referred to as organ-on-a-chip devices. Due to the key role of the biological cells, we have introduced the term bio-mechatronic design, to highlight the complexity of designing a system that should integrate biology, mechanics and electronics in the same device structure. The strength of the mechatronic design is to match the needs of the potential users to a systematic evaluation of overall functional design alternative. It may be especially attractive for organs-on-chips where biological constituents such as cells and tissues in 3D settings and in a fluidic environment should be compared, screened and selected. Through this approach, design solutions ranked to customer needs are generated according to specified criteria, thereby defining the key constraints of the fabrication. As an example, the bio-mechatronic methodology is applied to a liver-on-a-chip based on information extrapolated from previous theoretical and experimental knowledge. It is concluded that the methodology can generate new fabrication solutions for devices, as well as efficient guidelines for refining the design and fabrication of many of today's organ-on-a-chip devices.
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