The core facility Microphysiological Systems offers a diverse range of organ-on-a-chip techniques for human tissue culture applications. These include different microfluidic culture methods, and bioreactors interfaced with state-of-the-art bioprinters.
Our infrastructure is compatible with microphysiological systems made from a variety of different materials, including different types of thermoplastics, e.g. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), Polycarbonate (PC), Polystyrene (PS) and Teflon, thermosets, e.g. off-stoichiometry thiol-ene (OSTE), SU8 and elastomers, e.g. PDMS.
Our bioprinter (RegenHu R-GEN 200) allows for printing of a wide range of bioinks and materials, ranging from natural hydrogels such as alginate, gelatin, and collagen, to synthetic polymers like polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The bioprinter also supports sterile use of cell-laden bioinks, enabling the creation of complex, living tissue constructs.
To monitor dynamics at the cellular and tissue level, the developed devices are integrated with an array of sensitive biochemical or imaging-based biosensors. Thereby, the core facility thus aspires to bridge the gap between engineering, biology and medicine.
The core facility establishes new 3D culture methodologies, bioinks and co-culture protocols, and provides guidance with respect to suitable material of use of modular design and tunable structures for biomedical purposes.
