Bio-engineered human prostate gland and disease model

Abstract

Microfluidic devices, organ-on-a-chip platforms (e.g. mimicking the human prostate gland), and uses thereof are described herein. The microfluidic device includes at least two layers and a porous membrane therebetween. Each layer includes a channel, and the first channel and the second channel are aligned such that a first region of a first channel overlaps with a region of the second channel, and a second region of the first channel does not overlap a second region of the second channel. A disease model using the microfluidic devices includes (i) placing a first type of cells in the first channel and (ii) flowing a first cell culture medium through the first channel. Optionally, in step (i) a second type of cells in the second channel and in step (ii) a second cell culture medium flows through the second channel. The microfluidic devices can be used in drug screening and testing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.