HepaChip-MP - a twenty-four chamber microplate for a continuously perfused liver coculture model.

HepaChip microplate (HepaChip-MP) is a microfluidic platform comprised of 24 independent culture chambers with continuous, unidirectional perfusion. In the HepaChip-MP, an automated dielectrophoresis process selectively assembles viable cells into elongated micro tissues. Freshly isolated primary human hepatocytes (PHH) and primary human liver endothelial cells (HuLEC) were successfully assembled as cocultures aiming to mimic the liver sinusoid.

A novel microfluidic 3D platform for culturing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells: comparison with in vitro cultures and in vivo xenografts.

The integration of microfluidics and cell biology has reached a significant milestone with the development of "organ-on-chips", smart technological platforms that, once applied to the study of human diseases, such as cancer, might ultimately contribute to design personalised treatments and hence improve health outcomes. This paper reports that the combination of microfluidics and dielectrophoresis (DEP) allows to culture different pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) human cell lines into a cyclic olefin polymer (COP) chamber (HepaChip), enriched by the extracellular matrix (ECM) protein collagen. We show that PDAC cells cultured into the HepaChip (1) are vital and grow, provided they properly attach to collagen; (2) show morphological appearance and growth characteristics closer to those of cells grown as spheroids than as classical 2 dimensional (2D) in vitro cultures.

Quantifying ligand-cell interactions and determination of the surface concentrations of ligands on hydrogel films: The measurement challenge.

Hydrogels are extensively studied for biomaterials application as they provide water swollen noninteracting matrices in which specific binding motifs and enzyme-sensitive degradation sites can be incorporated to tailor cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration. Hydrogels also serve as excellent basis for surface modification of biomaterials where interfacial characteristics are decisive for implant success or failure. However, the three-dimensional nature of hydrogels makes it hard to distinguish between the bioactive ligand density at the hydrogel-cell interface that is able to interact with cells and the ligands that are immobilized inside the hydrogel and not accessible for cells.

A hydrogel-based versatile screening platform for specific biomolecular recognition in a well plate format.

Precise determination of biomolecular interactions in high throughput crucially depends on a surface coating technique that allows immobilization of a variety of interaction partners in a non-interacting environment. We present a one-step hydrogel coating system based on isocyanate functional six-arm poly(ethylene oxide)-based star polymers for commercially available 96-well microtiter plates that combines a straightforward and robust coating application with versatile bio-functionalization. This system generates resistance to unspecific protein adsorption and cell adhesion, as demonstrated with fluorescently labeled bovine serum albumin and primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDF), and high specificity for the assessment of biomolecular recognition processes when ligands are immobilized on this surface.

Degradable polyester scaffolds with controlled surface chemistry combining minimal protein adsorption with specific bioactivation.

Advanced biomaterials and scaffolds for tissue engineering place high demands on materials and exceed the passive biocompatibility requirements previously considered acceptable for biomedical implants. Together with degradability, the activation of specific cell–material interactions and a three-dimensional environment that mimics the extracellular matrix are core challenges and prerequisites for the organization of living cells to functional tissue. Moreover, although bioactive signalling combined with minimization of non-specific protein adsorption is an advanced modification technique for flat surfaces, it is usually not accomplished for three-dimensional fibrous scaffolds used in tissue engineering.