Takahashi Lab develops microfluidic culture system for organ chips to mimic in vivo vascular environment

On September 9, 2023, Takahashi Lab presented a study titled “Microfluidic culture of highly barrier-functional endothelial cells: mimicking in vivo vascular environment for organ chip applications” at the Biomedical Engineering Symposium 2023 in Kumamoto Jo Hall.

Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) line the interior of blood vessels and are essential for transporting oxygen and nutrients to organs. In healthy conditions, ECs form tight junctions between each other to prevent the leakage of blood components. In diseases such as atherosclerosis and inflammation, ECs lose their tight junction integrity, which can lead to serious complications.

Takahashi Lab developed a microfluidic culture system to mimic the in vivo vascular environment. Microfluidic chips are composed of two channels: a vascular channel for seeding vascular endothelial cells, and an organ channel for seeding organ cells. ECs were seeded onto the vascular channel and perfused with culture medium at different flow rates. The researchers then measured the tightness of the EC junctions.

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This research is important for the development of organ chips, which are miniaturized devices that mimic the structure and function of organs. By providing an optimal vascular environment, organ chips can be used to study the development and progression of diseases, as well as to test new drugs and therapies.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study will help to improve the accuracy and reliability of organ chip models, which could lead to new advances in disease research and treatment.

Additional information:

The Takahashi Lab is a leading research group in the field of organ chip technology. The lab is developing organ chips for a variety of applications, including drug discovery, disease modeling, and toxicity testing.

Takahashi Lab at Okayama University uses principles of physiology, cellular and molecular biology, biomecial engineering and biophysics. The purpose of the lab is to develop science and medicine by unveiling the mechanisms of diseases through collaborations with scientists, epidemiologists, and corporate alliances. The alliance includes Harvard University, Boston University, Texas A&M University, Sorbonne University, and PD Aerospace, Ltd.