Universal Biomaterial-on-Chip: a versatile platform for evaluating cellular responses on diverse biomaterial substrates.

Microfluidics has emerged as a promising approach for assessing cellular behavior in vitro, providing more physiologically relevant cell culture environments with dynamic flow and shear stresses. This study introduces the Universal Biomaterial-on-Chip (UBoC) device, which enables the evaluation of cell response on diverse biomaterial substrates in a 3D-printed microfluidic device. The UBoC platform offers mechanical stimulation of the cells and monitoring of their response on diverse biomaterials, enabling qualitative and quantitative in vitro analysis both on- and off-chip.

A microfluidic-based approach to investigate the inflammatory response of macrophages to pristine and drug-loaded nanostructured hydroxyapatite.

The biological characterization of biomaterials is largely based on static cell cultures. However, for highly reactive biomaterials such as calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA), this static environment has limitations. Drastic alterations in the ionic composition of the cell culture medium can negatively affect cell behavior, which can lead to misleading results or data that is difficult to interpret.

Experimental Characterization and Mathematical Modeling of the Adsorption of Proteins and Cells on Biomimetic Hydroxyapatite.

Biomaterial development is a long process consisting of multiple stages of design and evaluation within the context of both and testing. To streamline this process, mathematical and computational modeling displays potential as a tool for rapid biomaterial characterization, enabling the prediction of optimal physicochemical parameters. In this work, a Langmuir isotherm-based model was used to describe protein and cell adhesion on a biomimetic hydroxyapatite surface, both independently and in a one-way coupled system.

A microfluidics-based method for culturing osteoblasts on biomimetic hydroxyapatite.

The reliability of conventional cell culture studies to evaluate biomaterials is often questioned, as in vitro outcomes may contradict results obtained through in vivo assays. Microfluidics technology has the potential to reproduce complex physiological conditions by allowing for fine control of microscale features such as cell confinement and flow rate. Having a continuous flow during cell culture is especially advantageous for bioactive biomaterials such as calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (HA), which may otherwise alter medium composition and jeopardize cell viability, potentially producing false negative results in vitro.