Membraneless Organ-on-Chip Channel Layout for 3D Cell Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing organ-on-chip devices require membranes to separate channels, increasing manufacturing costs and complexity, and hinder cell growth inspection with vertical cell orientation, making them laborious and costly to produce.
Innovation Solution
An organ-on-chip device design without membranes, utilizing microfluidic plates and bases with differing wettability contact angles to overlap channels directly, allowing 3D cell growth and easy inspection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a membrane is used to separate the perfusion channels, then channel independence is achieved, but manufacturing cost and fabrication complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the membrane component from the organ-on-chip device. Instead of using a membrane to separate channels, the patent employs a single continuous channel design where channel independence is achieved through fluid control mechanisms rather than physical barriers, thereby simplifying fabrication and reducing manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the channel into functionally independent regions within a continuous physical structure. The single channel is divided into upper and lower perfusion regions that can be independently controlled through separate inlets and outlets, achieving channel independence without requiring physical separation membranes
2Adaptability or versatility
If a membrane is used to separate the channels, then independent solutions and conditions can be maintained, but manufacturing time and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the membrane component, the invention eliminates the associated manufacturing steps for membrane integration, sealing, and alignment. The membraneless design allows for simpler device assembly and faster production while maintaining the ability to establish independent solutions in different channel regions through controlled fluid flow
3Reliability
If channels are separated using a phase-guide or pillars, then channel separation is achieved, but cell inspection becomes difficult due to vertical cell growth orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes phase-guides and pillar structures that force vertical cell orientation. The membraneless single-channel design allows cells to grow in a more natural planar configuration that is easily observable through standard microscopy techniques, eliminating the inspection difficulties associated with vertically oriented cells
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the channel into distinct upper and lower perfusion regions that can accommodate different cell cultures or conditions, while maintaining a continuous physical structure that allows for easy optical access and cell inspection from above
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates faster, cheaper, and more efficient cell culture with direct channel overlap, enabling 3D cell growth and easy visualization using conventional microscopy.
Implementation Method 1
the microfluidic plate having a wettability contact angle greater than 300, and the base having a wettability contact angle lower than 900
Implementation Method 2
the microfluidic plate having a wettability contact angle greater than 300, and the base having a wettability contact angle lower than 900
Data Source
AI summary
The organ-on-chip device comprises a microfluidic plate (1), a base (2), and a plurality of independent subunits, each subunit comprising an upper channel (12) and a lower channel (13), said channels (12, 13) being defined between the microfluidic plate (1) and the base (2), wherein the microfluidic plate (1) has a wettability contact angle greater than 30°, and the base (2) has a wettability contact angle lower than 90°. The organ-on-chip device permits to separate the channels without using a membrane and having them one on top of the other.