Summary
Published in Micromachines (2021), this peer-reviewed study used 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds to form scaffold-free 3D microtissues. Full citation: Goldstein, Yoel, et al. Breaking the Third Wall: Implementing 3D-Printing Techniques to Expand the Complexity and Abilities of Multi-Organ-on-a-Chip Devices
Breaking the Third Wall: Implementing 3D-Printing Techniques to Expand the Complexity and Abilities of Multi-Organ-on-a-Chip Devices
Research Overview
Bridging in vitro models and in vivo conditions requires systemic context and tissue cross-talk, which has driven a decade of multi-organ-on-a-chip development — yet many devices fail to give each organ compartment its own tailored conditions, a crucial factor in cell function.
This study presents two 3D-print-based fabrication methods for a generic multi-organ chip: one with a PDMS microfluidic core and one built from 3D-printed units. Separate compartments each have their own inlet–outlet pair, enabling tissue-specific perfusion rates and individually adapted perfusion profiles, while microchannels allow cross-talk between the tissues.
Key Discoveries
- Two 3D-printing routes to a generic multi-organ-on-a-chip: PDMS core or fully printed units
- Individual inlet-outlet pairs give each tissue compartment its own perfusion rate
- Microchannels connect compartments to preserve inter-tissue cross-talk
