Flexible 3D printed microfluidic devices for organ-on-a-chip applications
2025
Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Japan
To facilitate advancements in drug discovery and disease modelling, there is a need for cost-effective methodologies to construct microfluidic devices that emulate organ-level physiology. This study details the development of a flexible microfluidic device fabricated via 3D printing, utilizing thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) as the printing filament and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as the bonding substrate.
The device's biocompatibility was assessed through the culture of human primary myoblasts, human primary endothelial cells (HUVEC), and human iPSC-derived optic vesicle (OV) organoids. Myoblasts cultured within the device demonstrated enhanced viability, differentiation, and alignment into myotube bundles compared to conventional well-plate cultures. Furthermore, iPSC-derived OV organoids exhibited sustained viability, neurite outgrowth, and the maintenance of PAX6 expression. These findings indicate the potential of this 3D-printed device as a platform for tissue modelling and organ-on-a-chip applications.
Development of a flexible 3D printed TPU-PVC microfluidic devices for organ-on-a-chip applications
Rodi Kado Abdalkader
Rodi Kado Abdalkader et al. Scientific Reports 2025 [1]
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine [2]
Added on: 04-30-2025
[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-90470-w[2] https://www.pcrm.org/news/innovative-science/researchers-demonstrate-rapid-viable-3d-printed-tpu-pvc-organ-chip?emci=f0022c54-5a1c-f011-8b3d-0022482a9fb7&emdi=528f187f-001e-f011-8b3d-0022482a9fb7&ceid=2015591
