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which is a transparent polymer. In order to make these channels we use the standard photolithography procedure. The porous membrane is the crux of the micro-device as it mimics the endothelial lining surrounding the hepatocytes in our liver. It protects the highly sensitive liver cells from shear stress arising due to blood flow while allowing diffusion of nutrients to the cells.
After separately fabricating these three layers we assemble them together using plasma treatment and applying
pressure. Before proceeding
any further we check the device
for any leakage arising due to
improper bonding. Once we are
sure that the device is properly
bonded, we have to ensure
that there is no contamination
and we sterilize our device
very carefully according to the
standard protocols. Once the
device is fully sterile we seed
cells inside the channels and
incubate the cells in a CO2
incubator. After 4-5 hours, we
observe the channels under
the microscope and carefully
replace media to ensure proper supply of nutrients. We again incubate the cells overnight. In order to study dynamic flow, we use pumps and flow the media at well-defined flow rates.
A prototype of liver-on-chip
These cells are periodically observed under a microscope to check their viability. Now, we can perform various drug toxicity tests, immunoblotting, in order to validate on-chip functionality. The expression of various biomarkers for liver functions, like albumin and urea production can be easily studied.
This novel technology is a revolutionary leap in the sense that it promises to solve major problems, like replacing animal testing, reduce the
time required for discovering a new drug and causalities due to drug failure. Further, these OOCs can be used to study various disease models effectively.
Ms. Nimisha Roy
|| 197
This is where the organ-on-chip (OOC) technology comes into the picture. This interdisciplinary domain is an amalgamation of lab-on-chip technology and cell biology. This field is still in its infancy and is extremely challenging, but nonetheless holds the potential to revolutionize the way drugs are discovered and tested.