Poster Presentations
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SIMPLE AND MODULAR ELECTRICAL AND MICROFLUIDICS INTEGRATION PLATFORM FOR LAB-ON-A-CHIP.
Meer Farazmand, PhD researcher, University of Warwick
Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are attractive devices in biosensing, offering volume production for low-cost and disposable applications (1) . Specifically, we are developing ultra-sensitive microresonators to detect miRNA-141, a prostate specific biomarker, found in urine (2). Although MEMS based devices have been interfaced with microfluidic, the solutions proposed to date typically rely on complex fabrication processes (3) or do not allow for continuous and optimised flow measurement (4). One of the main integration challenge is the difficulty to combine electrical and fluidic connections. Typically, ‘wire bonding’ or ‘flip-chip’ that provide permanent connection and do not allow for easy interfacing with fluids (5) are the main techniques to interface MEMS devices with electronics. Here we demonstrate a novel seamless electronic and fluidic interface for high-density MEMS-based biosensors (24 resonators on a 1x1 cm silicon chip). Through use of a 3D-printed housing and spring-loaded micro-pins we can simply mount the chip between the electronics on one side and microfluidic channels on the other side. This low-cost, disposable lab-on-a-chip platform will also enable us to optimise the flow regime for biosensing (6). This paper evaluates the proposed approach against wire bonding, highlighting the key advantages and disadvantages.
Cultivation and maturation of large 3D bioprinted tissue in perfusion bioreactors
Emma Petiot, PhD, Researcher, ICBMS-3dFAB
In the last 5 years, bioprinting proposed promising tools for regenerative medicine applications. Nevertheless, in-vitro maturation of bioprinted large living tissues (up to dm3 sizes) is still strongly limited by nutrient supply and in-situ neo-vascularization to sustain cell viability. Thus, nutrient perfusion, optimized internal geometry and processes design have to be developed to reach customized large tissues production. Such scale-up will have to go through specific and controlled bioreactors developments as well as biological behavior modeling to better rationalize parameter impacting the tissue maturation. A comparative study of static and dynamic culture of 8cm3 bioprinted conjunctive tissues endothelized with microvascular endothelial cells was performed. Tissues were maturated within 3d-printed perfusion bioreactor and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation was used to describe the heterogeneous perfusion flow path within the bioprinted tissue. Cell growth monitoring and tissue morphology and composition obtained through histological observations were used to compare the different cultivation conditions. Clear differences between static and dynamic culture conditions were observed on cell growth and tissue maturation. Dynamic cultures had a positive impact on the extracellular matrix production while conserving tissue internal geometry. Additionally, typical microvascular organization lumen were found within these large bioprinted tissues.
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