Our research group aims to implement various biological questions and models in microphysiological systems (MPS). We have established an iPSC-derived blood-brain barrier on a Mimetas chip (Burgio et al., 2023) and an in vitro kidney model on the Vitrofluid platform (Specioso et al., 2022). Currently, we are developing a plug-and-play MPS to recapitulate the liver fibrosis AOP in vitro. We have already identified several biomarkers and endpoints for key cellular responses. However, we are lacking real-time monitoring of mitochondrial health. The host lab's liver chip, with integrated oxygen sensors, can be employed to measure oxygen consumption in a manner analogous to that of the Seahorse assay (Schmidt et al. 2022). The implementation of our liver fibrosis model on the liver chip would not only serve to confirm the robustness of the model, independent of the MPS, but would also facilitate a deeper insight into the mechanisms of fibrosis.
Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz -> University of Tübingen
All of the microphysiological systems mentioned above have either been commercially available or have been fabricated in a collaborator's laboratory. In order to have more freedom in trying different approaches and designs, we would now like to learn how we could fabricate MPS in our home laboratory ourselves.
MPS were first used in the early 2010s and the field is rapidly growing. The market value of organ-on-a-chip products is estimated to grow from $103M in 2020 to $1.6BN by 2030. MPS refers to a "complex, multi-cellular in vitro system that commonly includes three-dimensional aspects, fluid flow, changing pressure or stretch, and multiorgan interactions". In brief, MPS describe any advanced in vitro system on which cells can be cultured in a more physiologically relevant environment. This includes extracellular matrix, organ-on-a-chip technologies, organoids, multi-layer cultures, spheroids and bioprinting. In contrast to traditional 2D cell culture systems, MPS expose cells to structural, material or biophysical elements, which have been shown to induce cellular behavior as it would be in vivo. Consequently, it is a far more effective method for studying fibrosis progression than any other 2D method.
Ms. Saskia Schmidt
Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz FHNW
Hochschule für Life Sciences
Institut für Chemie und Bioanalytik