A Novel, Organ-On-A-Chip Device for Assessing Trans-epithelial Transport, and Uses Thereof

Unmet Need
The current drug development process is expensive, laborious, and only about 1 in 10 drugs that enter clinical trials ultimately receive FDA approval. One important factor that drives this high failure rate and the high costs associated with drug development is that traditional cell culture and animal-based methods for drug testing do not fully recapitulate human pathophysiology. One promising approach to improve preclinical drug testing is the use of organ-on-a-chip devices. Organ-on a chip devices are 3D cell culture chips that are capable of recapitulating the physical microenvironment of an organ. These devices can increase the speed and accuracy of drug testing, and provide researchers with a cost-effective method of introducing therapeutics and observing reactions in real time. However, organ-on-a-chip devices are in the early stages of development and frequently fail to have all the functional hallmarks of a complete organ/tissue barrier. Moreover, organ-on-a-chip devices generally do not provide functional readouts of the organ that they recapitulate. Consequently, there is a need for novel methods and approaches to improve organ-on-a-chip designs.  

Technology Overview
JHU researchers have developed a new microfluidic organ-on-a-chip device to measure the trans-epithelial fluid transport activity. The device is capable of measuring and controlling molecular flux across the epithelium as well as the flow and hydraulic pressure of fluid across a monolayer of cells. The device comprises of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) block with specific features, porous membrane, a flat transparent base and a micro-capillary. The device has multiple compartments to simulate physiologically relevant conditions. The micro-capillary can measure flux and/or pressure in one or more than one compartment of the device. The device can also be fabricated with a plurality of porous membranes. The device is compatible with microscopy and can be used design experiments with a plurality of physiologically relevant conditions.

Stage of Development
Organ-on-a-chip device has been developed to examine trans-epithelial fluid transport activity.

Category(s):