Systems, devices, and processes for miniaturized physiological mimicry
AssigneeThe Research Institute at Nationwide Children' s Hospital
InventorsBelgacem Mihi, Gail E. Besner
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Abstract
A miniaturized physiological mimicry platform is disclosed. The platform may include microfluidic chips and other microphysiological devices and their use to emulate the anatomies and/or functions of tissues, such as single and multiple organ systems. Various manufacturing approaches are disclosed for fabricating chips of different sizes. Formulations of extracellular matrices that better sustain attachment and expansion of different cell types various devices are also provided.
Claims20
A microfluidic device for modeling one or more physiological functions of one or more organisms, the microfluidic device comprising a first channel, and a second channel separated from the first channel by an extracellular matrix (ECM) that mimics a connective tissue of the organism.
A method of fabricating a microfluidic device, the method comprising:
- using a sacrificial material to three-dimensional (3D) print a set of channels and a set of reservoirs;
- covering the set of channels with an extracellular matrix (ECM);
- and
- warming the sacrificial material to yield perfusable channels once the set of channels is flushed.
A method of fabricating a microfluidic device, the method comprising:
- printing a set of channels and a set of reservoirs;
- casting a sacrificial material into the set of channels;
- embedding the set of channels in an extracellular matrix;
- and
- flushing the sacrificial material from the set of channels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.