Integrating biological vasculature into a multi-organ-chip microsystem

Abstract

A chip-based system mimicking the transport function of the human cardiovascular system has been established at minute but standardized microsystem scale. A peristaltic on-chip micropump generates pulsatile shear stress in a widely adjustable physiological range within a microchannel circuit entirely Time-lapse and 3D imaging two-photon microscopy were used to visualise details of spatiotemporal adherence of the endothelial cells to the channel system and to each other. The first indicative long-term experiments revealed stable performance over two and four weeks. The potential application of this system for the future establishment of human-on-a-chip systems and basic human endothelial cell research is discussed.

Characterization and simulation of peristaltic micropumps

“…Huang et al (2006 also used µPIV to characterize the peristaltic pump at different pumping frequencies. Their results show a good correlation with the previously obtained results (Schimek and Busek, 2013).…”

“…co-workers (2006, 2008) also used µPIV to 5 characterize the peristaltic pump at different pumping frequencies. Their results show a good 6 correlation to the previously obtained results (Schimek and Busek (2013) On the left side of the picture one can see the pneumatic switching circuit and the throttle which regulates the mass air flow m'(t) to the pneumatic chamber with the dead volume V 0 at the membrane. The volume V o is constant.…”

“…Furthermore, the calculated results for a pump pulse of the periodic pulsatile fluid flow fit the experimental data very well. Previous findings reported by Schimek and Busek (2013) show that the described pump is suitable for the cultivation of human endothelial cells; the produced wallshear stress is within the physiological range. The developed model can be used to calculate the peak velocity with respect to the pumping parameters (pressure, diameter, etc.).…”

“…Furthermore, the wall-shear stress to the adherent cells should be known. In a previous work (Schimek and Busek, 2013) the chip was cultured with endothelial cells to determine the influence of different shear stress values on the cell formation. The flow velocity was measured using micro-PIV.…”

3D Anastomosed Microvascular Network Model with Living Capillary Networks and Endothelial Cell-Lined Microfluidic Channels

“…In order to construct a more physiological organon-a-chip, it is critical to be able to construct a functional 3D microvasculature system with a closed network of arteries, veins, and capillaries [1,2].…”