Design and evaluation of a skin-on-a-chip pumpless microfluidic device

Abstract

The development of microfluidic culture technology facilitates the progress of study of cell and tissue biology. This technology expands the understanding of pathological and physiological changes. A skin chip, as in vitro model, consisting of normal skin tissue with epidermis and dermis layer (full thickness) was developed. Polydimethylsiloxane microchannels with a fed-batched controlled perfusion feeding system were used to create a full-thick ex-vivo human skin on-chip model. The design of a novel skin-on-a-chip model was reported, in which the microchannel structures mimic the architecture of the realistic vascular network as nutrients transporter to the skin layers. Viabilities of full-thick skin samples cultured on the microbioreactor and traditional tissue culture plate revealed that a precise controlled condition provided by the microfluidic enhanced tissue viability at least for seven days. Several advantages in skin sample features under micro-scale-controlled conditions were found such as skin mechanical strength, water adsorption, skin morphology, gene expression, and biopsy longevity. This model can provide an in vitro environment for localizing drug delivery and transdermal drug diffusion studies. The skin on the chip can be a valuable in vitro model for representing the interaction between drugs and skin tissue and a realistic platform for evaluating skin reaction to pharmaceutical materials and cosmetic products.

The Edifice of Vasculature-On-Chips: A Focused Review on the Key Elements and Assembly of Angiogenesis Models

“…86,91,92 93 Modifications to typical pump-driven flow systems have resulted in the development of high-throughput gravity-driven systems capable of screening patient-derived cells. 94 The implementation of these high-throughput systems has enabled efficient and accurate analysis of large numbers of samples in a short period of time. The use of these systems has significant implications for the advancement of drug discovery and development, enabling researchers to identify and evaluate the efficacy of potential therapeutic agents more effectively and efficiently.…”

“…In brief, exposure of keratinocytes to SLS and SC revealed a notable increase in angiogenic formation, which closely resembles the eczematous reaction that frequently occurs in irritant contact dermatitis. Mohamadali et al developed a microbioreactor human skin chip model, which comprised a normal skin tissue with both the full-thickness dermis and epidermis layers, that mimic the architecture of the microvascular networks as nutrient transporters to the skin layers . The developed microbioreactor model was found to maintain the characteristics of normal skin and allows for the observation of retinoic acid the diffusion through the tissue, as opposed to the standard tissue culture plates typically used in such studies.…”

“…Modifications to typical pump-driven flow systems have resulted in the development of high-throughput gravity-driven systems capable of screening patient-derived cells . The implementation of these high-throughput systems has enabled efficient and accurate analysis of large numbers of samples in a short period of time.…”

“…Mohamadali et al developed a microbioreactor human skin chip model, which comprised a normal skin tissue with both the full-thickness dermis and epidermis layers, that mimic the architecture of the microvascular networks as nutrient transporters to the skin layers. 94 The developed microbioreactor model was found to maintain the characteristics of normal skin and allows for the observation of retinoic acid the diffusion through the tissue, as opposed to the standard tissue culture plates typically used in such studies. Meanwhile, Kwak et al likewise developed a human skin model composed of dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes with a vascular endothelium to examine the immune response of human skin tissue ( Figure 6 D).…”

Moving lab-grown tissues into the clinic: organ-on-a-chip and bioengineered skin systems

“…The microchannels prevent occlusion and facilitate even media distribution. The skin chip model maintains tissue viability without expensive growth factors under a renewing fed-batch perfusion flow regimen (Mohamadali et al, 2023). (B) Wrinkled skin on a chip model (WSOC) relies on PDMS-made well with two horizontal compartments separated by a porous membrane and an electromagnet.…”