Adding the ‘heart’ to hanging drop networks for microphysiological multi-tissue experiments

• DOI: 10.1039/c5lc01000d
• Publication Date: 2015-09-15T11:30:25Z
• Authors: Saeed Rismani Yazdi; Amir Shadmani; Sebastian C. Bürgel; Patrick M. Misun; Andreas Hierlemann; Olivier Frey
• Keywords: Pulsatile flow; Organ-on-a-Chip; Pneumatic flow control; Flow Control

Microfluidic hanging-drop networks enable culturing and analysis of 3D microtissue spheroids derived from different cell types under controlled perfusion investigating inter-tissue communication in multi-tissue formats. In this paper we introduce a compact on-chip pumping approach for flow control networks. The pump includes one pneumatic chamber located directly above the hanging drops uses surface tension at liquid-air-interface actuation. Control protocol provides wide range unidirectional pulsatile continuous profiles. With proposed concept several independent can be operated parallel with only single actuation line high fidelity. Closed-loop medium circulation between organ models formats multiple simultaneous assays are possible. Finally, implemented real-time feedback control-loop based on beating human iPS-derived cardiac cultured same system. This configuration allows simulating physiological effects heart their impact chip.