Organ-on-Chips for Studying Tissue Barriers: Standard Techniques and a Novel Method for Including Porous Membranes Within Microfluidic Devices

Mattia Ballerini; Mohammad Jouy Bar; Andrea Mainardi; Marco Rasponi; Giovanni Stefano Ugolini

doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-1693-2_2

Organ-on-Chips for Studying Tissue Barriers: Standard Techniques and a Novel Method for Including Porous Membranes Within Microfluidic Devices

Mattia Ballerini, Mohammad Jouy Bar, Andrea Mainardi, Marco Rasponi, Giovanni Stefano Ugolini

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A relevant number of organ-on-chips is aimed at modeling epithelial/endothelial interfaces between tissue compartments. These barriers help tissue function either by protecting (e.g., endothelial blood–brain barrier) or by orchestrating relevant molecular exchanges (e.g., lung alveolar interface) in human organs. Models of these biological systems are aimed at characterizing the transport of molecules, drugs or drug carriers through these specific barriers. Multilayer microdevices are particularly appealing to this goal and techniques for embedding porous membranes within organ-on-chips are therefore at the basis of the development and use of such systems. Here, we discuss and provide procedures for embedding porous membranes within multilayer organ-on-chips. We present standard techniques involving both custom-made polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes and commercially available plastic membranes. In addition, we present a novel method for fabricating and bonding PDMS porous membranes by using a cost-effective epoxy resin in place of microfabricated silicon wafers as master molds.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Organ-on-a-Chip
Subtitle of host publication	Methods and Protocols
Editors	Marco Rasponi
Place of Publication	New York
Publisher	Humana Press
Chapter	2
Pages	21-38
Number of pages	18
ISBN (Electronic)	978-1-0716-1693-2
ISBN (Print)	978-1-0716-1692-5, 978-1-0716-1695-6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1693-2_2
Publication status	Published - 15 Sept 2021

Publication series

Name	Methods in Molecular Biology (MIMB)
Publisher	Springer
Volume	2373
ISSN (Print)	1064-3745
ISSN (Electronic)	1940-6029

Keywords

Microfluidics
Microdevices
Microfabrication techniques
microphysiological systems
Chemical/drug screening
Drug Development
Multilayer microdevices
Replica molding
Porous membranes
Organ-on-chip

Access to Document

10.1007/978-1-0716-1693-2_2

Cite this

Ballerini, M., Jouy Bar, M., Mainardi, A., Rasponi, M., & Ugolini, G. S. (2021). Organ-on-Chips for Studying Tissue Barriers: Standard Techniques and a Novel Method for Including Porous Membranes Within Microfluidic Devices. In M. Rasponi (Ed.), Organ-on-a-Chip: Methods and Protocols (pp. 21-38). ( Methods in Molecular Biology (MIMB); Vol. 2373). Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1693-2_2

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title = "Organ-on-Chips for Studying Tissue Barriers: Standard Techniques and a Novel Method for Including Porous Membranes Within Microfluidic Devices",

abstract = "A relevant number of organ-on-chips is aimed at modeling epithelial/endothelial interfaces between tissue compartments. These barriers help tissue function either by protecting (e.g., endothelial blood–brain barrier) or by orchestrating relevant molecular exchanges (e.g., lung alveolar interface) in human organs. Models of these biological systems are aimed at characterizing the transport of molecules, drugs or drug carriers through these specific barriers. Multilayer microdevices are particularly appealing to this goal and techniques for embedding porous membranes within organ-on-chips are therefore at the basis of the development and use of such systems. Here, we discuss and provide procedures for embedding porous membranes within multilayer organ-on-chips. We present standard techniques involving both custom-made polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes and commercially available plastic membranes. In addition, we present a novel method for fabricating and bonding PDMS porous membranes by using a cost-effective epoxy resin in place of microfabricated silicon wafers as master molds.",

keywords = "Microfluidics, Microdevices, Microfabrication techniques, microphysiological systems, Chemical/drug screening, Drug Development, Multilayer microdevices, Replica molding, Porous membranes, Organ-on-chip",

author = "Mattia Ballerini and \{Jouy Bar\}, Mohammad and Andrea Mainardi and Marco Rasponi and Ugolini, \{Giovanni Stefano\}",

year = "2021",

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language = "English",

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Ballerini, M, Jouy Bar, M, Mainardi, A, Rasponi, M & Ugolini, GS 2021, Organ-on-Chips for Studying Tissue Barriers: Standard Techniques and a Novel Method for Including Porous Membranes Within Microfluidic Devices. in M Rasponi (ed.), Organ-on-a-Chip: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology (MIMB), vol. 2373, Humana Press, New York, pp. 21-38. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1693-2_2

Organ-on-Chips for Studying Tissue Barriers: Standard Techniques and a Novel Method for Including Porous Membranes Within Microfluidic Devices. / Ballerini, Mattia; Jouy Bar, Mohammad; Mainardi, Andrea et al.
Organ-on-a-Chip: Methods and Protocols. ed. / Marco Rasponi. New York: Humana Press, 2021. p. 21-38 ( Methods in Molecular Biology (MIMB); Vol. 2373).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Academic › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Organ-on-Chips for Studying Tissue Barriers

T2 - Standard Techniques and a Novel Method for Including Porous Membranes Within Microfluidic Devices

AU - Ballerini, Mattia

AU - Jouy Bar, Mohammad

AU - Mainardi, Andrea

AU - Rasponi, Marco

AU - Ugolini, Giovanni Stefano

PY - 2021/9/15

Y1 - 2021/9/15

N2 - A relevant number of organ-on-chips is aimed at modeling epithelial/endothelial interfaces between tissue compartments. These barriers help tissue function either by protecting (e.g., endothelial blood–brain barrier) or by orchestrating relevant molecular exchanges (e.g., lung alveolar interface) in human organs. Models of these biological systems are aimed at characterizing the transport of molecules, drugs or drug carriers through these specific barriers. Multilayer microdevices are particularly appealing to this goal and techniques for embedding porous membranes within organ-on-chips are therefore at the basis of the development and use of such systems. Here, we discuss and provide procedures for embedding porous membranes within multilayer organ-on-chips. We present standard techniques involving both custom-made polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes and commercially available plastic membranes. In addition, we present a novel method for fabricating and bonding PDMS porous membranes by using a cost-effective epoxy resin in place of microfabricated silicon wafers as master molds.

AB - A relevant number of organ-on-chips is aimed at modeling epithelial/endothelial interfaces between tissue compartments. These barriers help tissue function either by protecting (e.g., endothelial blood–brain barrier) or by orchestrating relevant molecular exchanges (e.g., lung alveolar interface) in human organs. Models of these biological systems are aimed at characterizing the transport of molecules, drugs or drug carriers through these specific barriers. Multilayer microdevices are particularly appealing to this goal and techniques for embedding porous membranes within organ-on-chips are therefore at the basis of the development and use of such systems. Here, we discuss and provide procedures for embedding porous membranes within multilayer organ-on-chips. We present standard techniques involving both custom-made polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes and commercially available plastic membranes. In addition, we present a novel method for fabricating and bonding PDMS porous membranes by using a cost-effective epoxy resin in place of microfabricated silicon wafers as master molds.

KW - Microfluidics

KW - Microdevices

KW - Microfabrication techniques

KW - microphysiological systems

KW - Chemical/drug screening

KW - Drug Development

KW - Multilayer microdevices

KW - Replica molding

KW - Porous membranes

KW - Organ-on-chip

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U2 - 10.1007/978-1-0716-1693-2_2

DO - 10.1007/978-1-0716-1693-2_2

M3 - Chapter

C2 - 34520004

SN - 978-1-0716-1692-5

SN - 978-1-0716-1695-6

T3 - Methods in Molecular Biology (MIMB)

SP - 21

EP - 38

BT - Organ-on-a-Chip

A2 - Rasponi, Marco

PB - Humana Press

CY - New York

ER -

Ballerini M, Jouy Bar M, Mainardi A, Rasponi M, Ugolini GS. Organ-on-Chips for Studying Tissue Barriers: Standard Techniques and a Novel Method for Including Porous Membranes Within Microfluidic Devices. In Rasponi M, editor, Organ-on-a-Chip: Methods and Protocols. New York: Humana Press. 2021. p. 21-38. ( Methods in Molecular Biology (MIMB)). doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1693-2_2

Organ-on-Chips for Studying Tissue Barriers: Standard Techniques and a Novel Method for Including Porous Membranes Within Microfluidic Devices

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Best poster presentation prize

A Novel Soft Lithography Technique for Porous Membrane Fabrication as a Permeable Barrier in Gut- and Lung-on-Chip Devices

Cite this

Organ-on-Chips for Studying Tissue Barriers: Standard Techniques and a Novel Method for Including Porous Membranes Within Microfluidic Devices

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Prizes

Best poster presentation prize

Research output

A Novel Soft Lithography Technique for Porous Membrane Fabrication as a Permeable Barrier in Gut- and Lung-on-Chip Devices

Cite this