The currently used 2D monolayer cells cannot accurately reflect the structure, function, and mechanical characteristics of living tissue, nor can they reproduce the highly complex and dynamic 3D environment in the body. The organo-on-a-chip based on microfluidic technology can simulate the complex structure, microenvironment and physiological functions of human organs, so it has gradually become an ideal tool for new drug screening and toxicity evaluation. Creative Biolabs can provide customers with high-quality organ-on-a-chip design and customization services relying on its profound technical precipitation.
Organ-On-A-Chip and Its Advantages
Fig. 1 System of body on a chip.1,2
Since the current cell or animal models for testing the efficacy of drugs cannot predict the response of human organs to drugs well, some countries or regions prohibit animal experiments, cost issues, etc., development of good drug efficacy prediction and evaluation tools has become an urgent need to solve. Organ-on-a-chip is an application based on microfluidic technology. Using micromachining technology, scientists can create a bionic system on the microfluidic chip that can simulate the main functions of human organs. Organ-on-a-chip not only has the characteristics of miniaturization, integration and low consumption of microfluidic technology, but also can accurately control multiple system parameters such as chemical concentration gradient and fluid shear force, and can also build cell graphics culture and realize the tissue-tissue and organ-organ interface interaction, so as to truly simulate the complex structure, microenvironment and physiological functions of human organs.
At present, researchers have realized the construction of many human organs on the microfluidic chip, including chip liver, chip lung, chip intestine, chip blood vessel, chip heart and multi-organ chips. Some of them have entered the practical stage, for example, a chip kidney has been used for drug screening, and a chip liver has also been used to test the liver toxicity of drugs.
Solutions from Creative Biolabs
Creative Biolabs has a professional microfluidic technology team that has helped customers successfully design and build multiple organ chips. Taking the construction of an artificial lung on a microfluidic chip as an example, on lung-on-a-chip, the lung simulation microcavity is composed of two parallel microchannels and two hollow lateral cavities on both sides. The central microchannels are separated by a porous and flexible extracellular matrix (ECM) modified PDMS membrane. The PDMS membrane acts as a scaffold, with human alveolar epithelial cells cultured on the top and pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells cultured on the bottom. This design enables air to form an air-liquid interface after entering the upper epithelial chamber. The hollow microchannels on both sides of the flexible membrane are vacuum chambers, which can simulate physiological respiration movement through the mechanical stretching of the PDMS membrane driven by pressure. The separated channel structure makes it possible to precisely control the flow of liquid and deliver immune cells and nutrients to epithelial and endothelial cells, respectively. This breathing chip system can be used to study lung inflammation/infection responses at the organ level and explore lung nanotoxicity.
Fig.1 Illustration of the diverse microfluidic devices used to study biological processes occurring in vascular, respiratory, nervous, digestive and excretory systems. (Perestrelo, et al., 2015)
Creative Biolabs understands how crucial it is for our customers to quickly and efficiently apply high-quality microfluidic chips to their experiments and provides comprehensive and stable results. Our simple but versatile and well-featured MFMM-0722 cell culture and organ-on-chip models can perfectly meet your various requirements at a competitive price. Customized channel depth, width, and plate material are also optional according to different research projects. In addition, a series of 3D organ-on-chip models with more complex and advanced designs that can better simulate the environment of cells in an organism are also available.
The high-level microfluidic technology team and many years of development experience in the field of organ-on-a-chip make Creative Biolabs the leading organ chip expert in the industry. We can provide customers with professional and high-quality organ-on-a-chip design and customization services based on microfluidic technology. If additional help is needed, please directly contact us and consult our technical supports for more details.
Features and Benefits
Precise Control of Microenvironments
Microfluidic chips offer precise control over the microenvironment, including chemical gradients, shear stress, and mechanical forces. This ability to mimic physiological conditions enhances the accuracy of experimental outcomes, leading to more reliable data for drug testing and disease modeling.
Reduced Need for Animal Testing
Organ-On-A-Chip technology provides a more accurate human model, reducing the reliance on animal testing. This not only addresses ethical concerns but also improves the relevance of preclinical testing to human physiology.
Customizable Design
Microfluidic chips can be customized to replicate specific organ functions and disease conditions. This flexibility allows researchers to tailor the chips to their specific experimental needs, providing a versatile platform for various applications.
Versatile Applications
These chips are versatile tools used in drug screening, toxicity testing, disease modeling, and the study of organ-specific functions. Their adaptability makes them valuable across a wide range of biomedical research applications.
Scalability for Industrial Applications
Microfluidic chips can be scaled up for industrial applications, facilitating large-scale drug testing and manufacturing processes. This scalability supports the transition from research to practical applications in pharmaceutical development.
References
Perastrelo, Aguas, et al. " Microfluidic Organ/Body-on-a-Chip Devices at the Convergence of Biology and Microengineering." Sensors 15.12 (2015): 31142-31170.
under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, without modification.
Q&As
Q: How do microfluidic chips replicate human organ functions?
A: Microfluidic chips replicate human organ functions by integrating living cells into micro-engineered environments. These environments mimic the structural and functional characteristics of human organs, including fluid flow, cell-cell interactions, and mechanical stresses.
Q: What advantages do Organ-On-A-Chip systems offer over traditional cell cultures and animal models?
A: Organ-On-A-Chip systems provide a more accurate simulation of human organ environments compared to 2D cell cultures and animal models. They offer enhanced control over chemical gradients and fluid dynamics, which leads to more reliable data on drug responses and disease mechanisms.
Q: What types of organs can be modeled using Organ-On-A-Chip technology?
A: Various organs can be modeled, including the liver, lung, heart, kidney, and intestines. Multi-organ chips can simulate interactions between different organs, providing a more comprehensive understanding of human physiology.
Q: What are the main components of a microfluidic Organ-On-A-Chip system?
A: Key components include microchannels, a porous membrane, and cultured cells. These elements recreate the organ's microenvironment, enabling the study of cellular interactions, fluid dynamics, and tissue responses under physiological conditions.
Q: How does Creative Biolabs support Organ-On-A-Chip development?
A: Creative Biolabs offers comprehensive services, including the design and customization of microfluidic chips, integration of specific cell types, and the development of organ-specific models. Our expertise ensures high-quality and reliable organ-on-a-chip systems.
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Fig. 1 System of body on a chip.1,2
Fig.1 Illustration of the diverse microfluidic devices used to study biological processes occurring in vascular, respiratory, nervous, digestive and excretory systems. (Perestrelo, et al., 2015)
