Medical grade titanium on-chip : assessing the biological properties of biomaterials for bone regeneration

• Medical grade titanium on-chip: assessing the biological properties of biomaterials for bone regeneration Sarah-Sophia D. Carter1, Hugo Nguyen2, Milena Moreira1, Maria Tenje1, and Gemma Mestres11Department of Engineering Sciences, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Sweden2Department of Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden IntroductionBefore entering the clinic, biomaterials need to be thoroughly evaluated, which requires accurate in vitro models. In this work, we have developed a microfluidic device that could be used to assess the biological properties of biomaterials, in a more in vivo-like environment than what is currently possible. MethodsOur device consists of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, Sylgard 184) microfluidic channel (l= 6 mm, w= 2 mm, h= 200 µm) and a titanium disc (Ti6Al4V, at bottom), held together by an additively manufactured fixture (Fig. 1A). PDMS was cured overnight at 65°C on a silicon wafer master. Once the microchannel and titanium disc were positioned, MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast-like cells were seeded (50,000 cells/cm2). After 5 hours incubation under standard culture conditions, flow was started (2 μl/min). As a control, MC3T3-E1 cells were seeded onto plain titanium discs off-chip. Cell viability and morphology were assessed after 20 hours by calcein-AM/propidium iodide (PI), staining live and dead cells respectively. Results and discussionFigure 1B and 1C show calcein-AM/PI stained MC3T3-E1 cells cultured on-chip and figure 1D shows the control, MC3T3-E1 cells cultured off-chip. The potential to culture cells in our chip was confirmed by the presence of a majority of viable cells (green) with a similar morphology as the control sample. The reason for the increased amount of dead cells (red) on-chip compared to the control needs to be further examined, which requires longer-term experiments.ConclusionWe have set the first steps towards a microfluidic tool for the assessment of biological properties of biomaterials.

Nyckelord

Organ-on-chip

biomaterials

microfluidics

Teknisk fysik med inriktning mot mikrosystemteknik

Engineering Science with specialization in Microsystems Technology

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