Engineering a microfluidic organ model using 3-dimensional micropatterned cellular constructs

This novel design represents a broadly applicable three-dimensional technique for fabricating an “organ-on-a-chip” that serves as a viable platform for tissue studies. Current methods of biological research rely on animal testing and two-dimensional tissue cultures, but fail to provide physiologically accurate models of human tissue. This demonstrates a pressing need for convenient, physiologically relevant tissue models to advance biomedical research. Advances in microfluidics and cell encapsulation within hydrogels have made significant strides in trying to meet these needs, but the potential to use these technologies for engineering physiologically relevant tissue models has yet to be fully realized. Here, we present a microfluidic device which will integrate three-dimensional micro-patterned cellular constructs that may be subjected to flow through microfluidic channels. This microphysiological platform takes advantage of microfluidics, cell encapsulation within 3-dimensional constructs, and microscale patterning of different cell types. This creates a spatially patterned co-culture environment which accurately mimics the physiological conditions within many human organs. Here, we aim to model bone tissue, but the developed technology is generally applicable to any tissue or organ in either the healthy or diseased state. This work represents a significant improvement to biomedical research tools and tissue models currently available.