Abstract

3D Bioprinting Technologies For Organ-on-a-Chip Fabrication

Haruka Yoshie, Application Specialist, CELLINK

Organ-on-chips are microfluidic-based devices which allow researchers to study various biomedical aspects and processes including different pathological models and drug development and screening. Great efforts have been made for the development of organ-on-chips in recent years to more closely mimic cellular microenvironment, and to better understand more complex cell-cell interactions in vitro. To fabricate organ-on-a-chip devices, 3D fabrication methods are required. 3D bioprinting technology is rising as an innovative tool to fabricate organ-on-chips as it enables manufacturing of cell-laden microfluidic systems utilizing multiple materials and cell types in a controlled manner. There are different 3D bioprinting approaches to fabricate channel like structures in microfluidics/organ-on-chips, depending on the desired model. Recent advancement in extrusion-based bioprinting technologies such as coaxial printing and embedded printing (e.g. FRESH printing technique) allows creation of cell-laden in-vitro microfluidic devices. Light-based bioprinting is another approach to the fabrication of organ-on-chip devices. In this presentation, CELLINK 3D bioprinting technologies will be introduced. Our technologies are applied to various organ-on-a-chip models including disease models like tumor-on-a-chip studies. The studies demonstrate that the 3D bioprinting is a promising strategy for fabrications of a wide range of organ-on-chip models, and this technology may provide the basis for organ-on-chip development and manufacturing.