Facilitating implementation of organs-on-chips by open platform technology

Biomicrofluidics, vol. 15, pp. 051301

Abstract

Organ-on-chip (OoC) and multi-organs-on-chip (MOoC) systems have the potential to play an important role in drug discovery, disease modeling, and personalized medicine. However, most devices developed in academic labs remain at a proof-of-concept level and do not yet offer the ease-of-use, manufacturability, and throughput that are needed for widespread application. Commercially available OoC are easier to use but often lack the level of complexity of the latest devices in academia. Furthermore, researchers who want to combine different chips into MOoC systems are limited to one supplier, since commercial systems are not compatible with each other. Given these limitations, the implementation of standards in the design and operation of OoCs would strongly facilitate their acceptance by users. Importantly, the implementation of such standards must be carried out by many participants from both industry and academia to ensure a widespread acceptance and adoption. This means that standards must also leave room for proprietary technology development next to promoting interchangeability. An open platform with standardized interfacing and user-friendly operation can fulfill these requirements. In this Perspective article, the concept of an open platform for OoCs is defined from a technical perspective. Moreover, we discuss the importance of involving different stakeholders in the development, manufacturing, and application of such an open platform.

Authors 6

1. Anke R. Vollertsen corresponding

   Max Planck University of Twente Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics · University of Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   Applied Stem Cell Technologies, University of Twente 1 , Enschede, the Netherlands

   BIOS Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Max Planck Institute for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente 2 , Enschede, the Netherlands

2. Aisen Vivas

   Max Planck University of Twente Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics · University of Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   Applied Stem Cell Technologies, University of Twente 1 , Enschede, the Netherlands

   BIOS Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Max Planck Institute for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente 2 , Enschede, the Netherlands

3. Berend J. van Meer Aachen Department of Anatomy and Embryology

   Leiden University · Leiden University Medical Center · University of Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre 4 , Leiden, the Netherlands

   Organ-on-Chip Center Twente, University of Twente 3 , Enschede, the Netherlands

4. Albert van den Berg

   Max Planck University of Twente Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics · University of Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   BIOS Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Max Planck Institute for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente 2 , Enschede, the Netherlands

5. Mathieu Odijk

   Max Planck University of Twente Center for Complex Fluid Dynamics · University of Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   BIOS Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Max Planck Institute for Complex Fluid Dynamics, University of Twente 2 , Enschede, the Netherlands

6. Andries D. van der Meer corresponding

   University of Twente

   Affiliation as printed

   Applied Stem Cell Technologies, University of Twente 1 , Enschede, the Netherlands

   Organ-on-Chip Center Twente, University of Twente 3 , Enschede, the Netherlands