Towards a human-on-chip: Culturing multiple cell types on a chip with compartmentalized microenvironments
Abstract
We have developed a multi-channel 3D microfluidic cell culture system (multi-channel 3D-microFCCS) with compartmentalized microenvironments for potential application in human drug screening. To this end, the multi-channel 3D-microFCCS was designed for culturing different 3D cellular aggregates simultaneously to mimic multiple organs in the body. Four human cell types (C3A, A549, HK-2 and HPA) were chosen to represent the liver, lung, kidney and the adipose tissue, respectively. Cellular functions were optimized by supplementing the common medium with growth factors. However, TGF-beta1 was found to enhance A549 functions but inhibit C3A functions. Therefore, TGF-beta1 was specifically controlled-released inside the A549 compartment by means of gelatin microspheres mixed with cells, thus creating a cell-specific microenvironment. The function of A549 cells was enhanced while the functions of C3A, HK-2 and HPA cells were uncompromised, demonstrating the limited cross-talk between cell culture compartments similar to the in vivo situation. Such a multi-channel 3D-microFCCS could be potentially used to supplement or even replace animal models in drug screening.
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Maximizing mass transfer and minimizing shear stress in the perfusive soluble microenvironment causes cells grown in organ-on-a-chip set-ups to upregulate their functions, getting closer to native tissue.
“It has been shown that by maximizing the mass transfer and minimizing the shear stress in the perfusive soluble microenvironment, cells grown in organ-on-a-chip set-ups upregulate their functions, getting a step closer to a native tissue94,244,245.”
From Organoids (2022) · cites this paper as [245]
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- Authors
- Zhang, C., Zhao, Z., Abdul Rahim, N. A., van Noort, D., & Yu, H.
- Affiliations
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (SG)
- Corresponding author
- Yu, Hanry
- Venue
- Lab on a Chip
- Publisher
- Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
- Published
- 2009
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 22
- Pages
- 3185
- ISSN
- 1473-0189 (ISSN-L)
- 1473-0197
- OpenAlex
- W2096372947
- Cited by
- 340
- References
- 39
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 7.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Lab on a Chip (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- National University of Singapore (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Biomedical Research Council
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
- Keywords
- multi-organ-on-a-chip, 3D cell culture, TGF-β1, controlled release, gelatin microspheres, A549 cells, C3A cells, HK-2 cells, drug screening, alternative to animal models, growth factor supplementation
- MeSH terms
- Cell Line, Cell Survival, Gelatin, Humans, Microspheres, Diffusion Chambers, Culture, Transforming Growth Factor beta, Culture Media, Serum-Free, Cell Culture Techniques, Microfluidic Analytical Techniques
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